“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer.” (1 Peter 4:7 KJV)
When we think of the word sober, our minds usually conjure one meaning. Don’t get drunk. Why do “we” get drunk? “To lose our minds” from the bombardment of the day and to kill the pain. However, pain has its purpose and can be numbed in a better way, sober prayer. When we keep our mind sober from chaos and pain, we are able to stay aligned. We do not fret, worry, teeter totter, nor lose our minds.
In the original Greek “sober” appears twice in 1 Peter 4:7. Each word has a little different meaning. Translated 1 Peter 4:7 could read, “Be sober(1) and sober(2) unto prayer.” A double encouragement to be sober.
The first sober we see in the verse is the Greek word sophroneo. It means be of sound mind; self-controlled; be in the right mind without excess of any kind; moderate and discreet. Sophroneo is a derivative of the Greek word sophron (see above) meaning, of sound mind, sane, in one’s senses, curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate, calm, impassionate, exercise of cool reasoning. The root words of sophron are sozo, meaning, saved, whole, healed and phren meaning mind or understanding. Hence, we can deduce being sober is having a saved mind, a whole mind, and a healed mind.
The second time sober shows up in 1 Peter 4:7 is in the word watch. The Greek word for watch is nepho. It originally had a physical meaning, opposed to drunkenness and to be free from the influence of intoxicants. It further means to remain temperate, impassionate, calm, cool and collected.
Think about it. Excess clouds the mind. Excess divides the mind and our attention. Excess distracts and diverts our focus. Excess of anything… the negative’s: care, worry, fear, pain, chaos and disaster causes us to become “drunk” and to lose our mind. The good things in life like food, sugar, music, and sports can also lead us into drunkenness of mind. So, we have to watch out and remain sober.
What does 1 Peter 4:7 mean to me? I hear:
BE SOBER. Be self-controlled. Do not lose your mind. Don’t get drunk. Don’t get drunk on alcohol. Don’t get drunk on drugs. Don’t get drunk on sex. Don’t get drunk on food. Don’t get drunk on power. Don’t get drunk on money. Don’t get drunk on fame. Don’t get drunk on anything but the spirit of God. “Don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit.” (Eph 5:18 CSB) BE SOBER. BE ALERT. BE AWAKE. Stay calm, cool, and collected. BE SOBER and always in the place of prayer. Be filled with THE SPIRIT. Drink what Holy Spirit is pouring out, not the other spirits. His drink is the only thing that will get us through every day life!
I enCOURAGE you (and me) to be sober. We are blessed. It is so easy to step or slip into excess and “lose our minds.” We are called to be sound minded and self- controlled in all things.
1 Peter 4:1 tells us to arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ. This is not possible if we are drunk with the things of the world.
“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we [have spent] enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles–when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” (1 Peter 4:3 NKJV)
Remember, as followers of Jesus, “We have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV). We don’t want to lose it! Our desire should be to be filled by Him alone.
“You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luk 12:40 CSB)
My husband, Kris and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary this summer, but more importantly we are expecting our first grandchild. We have organically postponed a big trip because we want to be ready, present, and around for the arrival of baby Jack. However, we have planned a couple small trips.
I am a planner! When departure day for the trip arrives, I want every detail planned so that I can enjoy the vacation. I have been preparing for our get-a-way ever since we determined our destination. I have tirelessly searched and narrowed down the perfect place to stay. I have booked our flights: the best day, time, and most cost efficient. I have scheduled parking and booked our rental car. I have even chosen the restaurants where we will dine and am in the process of making reservations. I have organized ours daily agenda, even if that means just sitting on the beach. I do not want to miss anything our destination promises. I have studied, prepared and I will soon have a complete itinerary. Our bags will be packed. I will be ready when departure day arrives so that I can simply enjoy the ride without fretting.
Jesus tells us to BE READY for our departure day and His return. Have you spent as much time preparing for His return as I have for our trip? Is your head in the sand ignoring the signs of the times or are you ready? Do you know the signs that He told us about in the Bible to give us a heads up and make us ready for the journey of a life with Him to paradise?
Jesus says, “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.” (Mat 25:13 CSB). “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” (Luk 21:20 NKJV). “But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” (Luk 21:28 CSB)
Have you seen the news lately about Israel and the world? Do you know the “things” Jesus talks about in Luke 21:28? Do you care?
I wanted to write about something else , anything else, today, but you know how a song gets stuck in your head? “Be ready” has been on replay for weeks.
I continue to mess up in my life, as I have said many times, “I am not perfect.” However, Jesus was, is and will always be perfect. I am forgiven and made right in Him, alone! So, I am standing up. My head is lifted up. I am watching and I am waiting because I know my redemption is near.
I enCOURAGE you to BE READY. Get ready because the word of God says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22)“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ (23) “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Mat 7:21-23 NKJV).
I want you to KNOW Jesus. I want Jesus to know you. I want Jesus to know me, and I want to know Him. I want to know His voice when He makes the call to paradise. I want to do His will. I never want to hear Him say, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luk 6:46 NKJV)
In the last book, last chapter and last few verses of the Bible, Jesus tells us, twice, “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. … “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Rev 22:12, 20 CSB). Ready or not, He is coming. Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
GOD’S BUILDING: BE RESTORED AND RENEWED by Tammy Phillips (with most of the content contributed by Pastor Freddy T Wyatt) April 17, 2023
“For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” (1Co 3:9 CSB)
I was gently reminded more than once that I am so not perfect, but ever a work in progress!!!
Yesterday, I looked up to my husband and said, “Is he done?” Pastor Freddy T Wyatt brought the word of God for about fifteen minutes in a short, powerful sermon entitled, “The Building Ain’t the Building.” He might as well have “dropped-the-mike” after he was finished. Boy did it pack a punch, in more ways than one. He read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. He focused on verse nine, “For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” Pastor preached that we are the church, His coworkers, and His building. We are his home. We are what he is building up and working on. He illustrated that the Holy Spirit is like sandpaper, smoothing down the edges of our lives so we are not so splintery! He is constantly working on us.
The following words of God raced through my mind:
We are the temple of the living God. (2Co 6:16 CSB)
He restores us. (Psalm 23:3)
He transforms us He renews us. He renovates us. He completely changes us for the better. (Rom 12:2 KJV)
He renews us day by day. (2Co 4:16 CSB)
He perfects us. He repairs us. He restores us. He renovates us. He puts us in order. He fits and frame us. He mends what has been broken in us. He makes us what we ought to be. He renders us complete. (He 13:21, 1 Peter 5:10)
“Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor 5:17 NKJV)
Pastor also explained that we are God’s tilled up soil and that God has to break us up to prepare us to grow His fruit. I Corinthians 3:6 and 7 says, “but God gave the increase and the growth.” It is God who grows us up. What’s He growing?
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.”(Gal 5:22-23 CSB)
Then Pastor Freddy T issued a challenge. I called it a “punch list.” A punch list is prepared by a contractor in a building project. It outlines any work that has not been completed, or has not been completed correctly, down to the smallest detail, that will need to be rectified before the project can be considered complete, or perfect.
Pastor ended the service with the following “Fruit Punch List” and directive. Rank yourself 1 to 10 in the following rooms in your spiritual house:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Then he said, “If you are really serious about being God’s building, ask someone who lives with you to rank you.” OUCH!
Let’s just say the Architect of the universe and my favorite Carpenter, Jesus, has some MAJOR renovations to do in “This Old House!”
I enCOURAGE you to slow read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, listen to the brief sermon (“The Building Ain’t the Building”-Pastor Freddy T Wyatt ), and complete the challenged, Fruit Punch List. (I also let my husband rank me.) Afterwards, join in and ask the Lord which room or rooms He wants to begin renovating. Take it day by day.
“Therefore, we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.” (2Co 4:16 CSB)
Viva Magenta! Live! Breathe. Be…renewed and restored. (You know some of my walls will be painted magenta.)
by Tammy Phillips April 10, 2023 (Originally posted September 24, 2021)
“Finally, all [of you be] of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, [be] tenderhearted, [be] courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9 NKJV)
Until Jesus set me straight a few years ago, my motto was like many others, “You do you and I’ll do me.” I had a very small group of friends. I liked it that way and believed the small circle was all I needed. I did not let people in because, in general, I did not trust people. Jesus welcomed and loved all. He provided me with a little, transformative, attitude adjustment. He opened and expanded my circle with 1 Peter 3:8-9, we are called to:
Be like minded and be together in understanding. Have compassion for one another and have a “fellow-feeling.” Love as brothers. Be friendly, like a brother. Be tenderhearted. Have a heart full of mercy and kindness. Be courteous. Be humble minded and friendly of mind. Don’t return evil for evil. When you really want to slap, don’t slap back. Be a blessing. Give a good word.
These were and are learning points for my attitude alignment. I wish I could say I have aced every test when it comes to these lessons, not true. They were and are goals but not always achieved! I am embracing this word from the Lord. Now, I welcome new people into my world instead of having the “you do you and I’ll do me” attitude.
At the time, I had only known Kirsten Licari for six months, but because of our husband’s professions, our lives intertwined often. One night, Kris and I had dinner at the Licari’s home. She not only had lemons on the table, but also perfectly cut wedges of lime. I know you are thinking, so what? I do not drink beer, wine, alcohol, nor sodas. My drink of choice is ice, cold, refreshing water with lime. At some point, Kirsten took note that I liked limes. She chose to bless me with a simple gesture from her tender heart that spoke “good words” to me. What did her blessing say to me? “You are welcome here. I am personally interested in what is important to you. I hear you. I paid attention. I care.” Yes, I heard all that from the small plate of lime wedges. Kirsten exemplifies the person spoken of in 1 Peter 3:8-9. I have come to know her as one of the kindest humans that I have ever met. There are people who have been around me all my adult life that might not have recognized, nor cared about by affinity for limes. She did and it blessed me. To this day, she still has lime at her home every time that I go for dinner.
Little things do mean a lot, positively and negatively. We will never know the pain inflicted by one selfish, manipulative, nasty, ungracious act. However, I have found small, gracious gestures like a smile, a hug, an opened door, a listening ear, an encouraging word, or a simple act of kindness can turn someone’s day around.
I enCOURAGE you to prepare “a small plate of lime wedges” for someone. Be compassionate. Have that “fellow-feeling” for someone who is hurting. Share brotherly love. Be tender hearted and courteous. If someone is short with you, maybe do not be short back. (I hate to even write those words because you know what is headed my way, a short, unkind person.) If someone is unkind, be a blessing! Remember, we are called to be a blessing, so that we may also inherit a blessing. Give someone a good word that needs a good word. Share a lime!
The enemy will always try to beat us up and knock us down, BUT NOT GOD! He tried to do it to Jesus over and over, but Jesus stood. Listen to what the Lord told me one day when I was feeling less than…
Excerpt from my journal on March 30, 2023:
“The Lord moved yesterday through our prayers. He whooped me- ouch!!!This crucifying the flesh thing is hard, BUT I can do- through Jesus!Love you, Lord, But honestly, I feel like such a failure sometimes. I know it’s a lie! Hopefully, I cry because I don’t want to disappoint you, but I just can’t seem to get this right.
I heard the Lord say, ‘There is none righteous, No, not one. There is none who does good, No, not one.’
I went to Romans 3 and continued reading…
‘There is none righteous, no, not one…There is none who does good, no, not one.’ … (21) ‘BUT NOW the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, (22) even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. FOR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE; (23) for ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, (24) BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS, (25) whom God set forth [as] a propitiation (payment) by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, (26) to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that HE MIGHT BE JUST AND THE JUSTIFIER OF THE ONE WHO HAS FAITH IN JESUS.’ (Rom 3:10-12, 21-26 NKJV)
It is not about me. It is all about Jesus and what He did in His life, on the way to and through the cross! Jesus is the Justifier. (Following is the full meaning of the Greek word for Justifier, dikaioō.)
HE IS THE JUSTFIER He renders righteous. He shows on to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered. He declares one to be righteous. He pronounces one to be such as he ought to be. He declares and treats me as worthy. He absolves me. He frees me. He judges ME ACCEPTABLE.
It is all about Jesus the Justifier. None is right-No! Not one, but in Him. It is all about being in Him. It is about having faith in Him and standing in Him. I am made righteous through Jesus alone. I am right in Him alone.
Thank You, LORD! Thank you for what you did on the cross for me and all. I will stay hidden in you, my Justifier!”
I enCOURAGE you to begin “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2Co 10:5 NKJV).
The Word says it. We are justified in Him. Jesus did it. He died and paid for our justification. Our job is to believe Him. And to cast down anything that says the contrary, like, “I am not good enough. I am a failure. I can’t get this right. I am a loser. I am broken beyond repair.” These are all lies. Believe the Truth. Believe what Jesus did and what He says.
“For GOD so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 NKJV)
“GOD is LOVE.” (1 John 4:16)
God gave. God=Love. LOVE GAVE! What did Love give during the Passion week?
Love patiently listened to the strife of twelve at His last supper. Love agonized in the garden. Love sweat like great drops of blood. Love was sorrowful and very heavy. Love was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death Love knew the cup he was to bear and did it anyways. Love asked Abba Father that he not have to bear the cup, three times. Love said the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Love said save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Love said not my will but my Father’s. Love found His best friends sleeping through his darkest hour. Love was betrayed. Love said, “I AM.” Judas and the multitude went backward and fell to the ground. Love did not call down 80,000 angels to fight the multitude against Him. Love was bound. Love was allowed Himself to be taken captive by a multitude. Love was again forsaken by the disciples closest to him. Love was repeatedly spit in the face. Love was shamed. Love was humiliated. Love was insulted. Love remained silent. Love was punched. Love was mocked and made fun of. Love was beat. Love was blindfolded. Love was slapped on the face by the multitude. Love was reproached, reviled, and blasphemed. Love was vehemently falsely accused. Love remained silent. Love was utterly despised. Love was made no account. Love was mocked again. Love was scourged. Love was stripped and tied in a bending posture to a pillar. Love was whipped with leather thongs, weighted with sharp pieces of bone or lead, which tore the flesh of both his back and his breast. Love was beaten and beaten and beaten Love was stripped naked in front of about 600 soldiers. Love was robed in a scarlet robe. Love was crowned with a crown of thorns. Love was mocked again. Love was spit on again. Love was nailed to a cross. Love was crucified. Love said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Love said, “”Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” Love said, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Love was mocked again by the soldiers at Calvary. Love cried with a loud voice, “It is finished.” and gave up the ghost. Love died so we could live. Love declared our debt, “paid in full.” Love was buried for three days and nights. Love defeated death and the grave. Love arose as He as he said He would. LOVE LOVED US THIS MUCH. Love gave so that we may be saved. Love gave so that we could live. Thank you, JESUS!
I enCOURAGE you to accept the love of Jesus who died so we could have life more abundantly. Choose Jesus.
Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name.
And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. (Malachi 3:16-17)
The LORD treasures us. We are his jewels formed by years of pressure, trials, and tribulations. He says to Israel, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine.” (Exodus 19:5 KJV). Since He said it about Israel, He is no respecter of persons. We are his people adopted in Jesus. We are also His peculiar treasure, shut up and hidden away.
How do we know we are His treasure?
He said we were. So, we believe Him, and we are. He bought and paid for us with the blood of His only son. (Any time you are not feeling enough, think on that for a while!)
He, God of the universe, pays attention to what we say and do.
He, King of Kings, stops and hears us.
He is so delighted. He loves that we are amazed and spend time talking about Him. He has a book written to record every word that we speak about Him. It is like how we take pictures to capture the gift of the sunrise and sunset that He often bestows on us in the morning and evening sky.
He says, “They will be mine!” Isn’t that what you say when you pass by the TJMAXX counter and see some sparkly new jewel or pair of shoes? “It’s mine! I have to have it no matter the cost!” This is exactly what God did for us by giving us Jesus. God paid the highest price for His jewels.
He promises to declare us openly to be His peculiar treasures.
He will declare us openly, but He treasures us like we treasure our prized possessions. He keeps us shut up and protected from the thief who will try to kill, steal, and destroy us.
I enCOURAGE you to obey His voice. Do His word and be amazed by Him. Accept His forgiveness, plan, and purpose for your life. Then Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, or Diamond, you can be assured that He will declare YOU as HIS. You will be His prized possession, His precious jewel! He loves you. He treasures you. It does not matter what you do or have done, He looks at you through the lens of Jesus and He sees His peculiar treasure.
“Then those who feared The LORD, with awe-filled reverence, spoke, texted, emailed and called one another. The LORD paid attention and heard it. He had a book written of those who feared and lived amazed by Him and thought and meditated on His Name. ‘They will be mine,’ says the LORD of Hosts, ‘on that day when I publicly recognize them and make up my own jewels, my peculiar treasures,’” Tammy Phillips version of Malachi 3:16-17
“Be still and know that I [am] God!” (Psalm 46:10 NKJV)
Most Christians know this portion of Psalm 46:10, but what does this verse really suggest? What does it look like to get in the presence of the Lord, and be still? When we use His phone number, Jeremiah 33:3, and we call Him, He will answer! He will show us hidden things we do not know in His word, even if we have read and heard it a million times.
For the past days, I cannot get away from the phrase “BE STILL,” and Psalms 46:10.
I heard it in a blog from Lana Vawser.
I heard it in a You Tube video a friend sent me.
I heard it in my prayer time.
I heard it during “Cover Tennessee Prayer time”
I read it in an email from a friend.
It is the scripture written at the bottom of my journal as I write this TODAY.
It is in notes I just reread from prayer.
I heard it when God cancelled my original plans to go to Georgia in order that we could have a three -day faith-cation. He called into the stillness of His presence.
I heard it a week later while sitting in the cool of the morning on a friends deck in the Blue Ridge mountains.
I even saw it while shopping on the side of an inspirational cube in TJMAXX. (Yes, I bought it.)
“I hear you Lord. I really do.” Then it was almost as if Holy Spirit said, “Do you? Let me show you what I really mean.”
He showed me alright. He showed that “be still” means:
To slacken
To not be tense
To hang loose
To relax
To slow down
To sink down
To cast down
To throw down
To let go
To drop
I heard Holy Spirit loudly say so that I could understand, “To be still is to drop everything! Drop everything. Let it go.”
Drop every worry, anxiety, and fear. Drop your family problems, job challenges and finance woes. Drop your hurts, pains, and impossibilities. Drop your bitterness, backbiting, and blabbering. Drop your “I-know-everything.” Drop your “I-need-to-help-out-with-this.” Drop your control, you list of “to-dos” and your list of “have-to-get-done.” Drop your phone, I-pad and computer. Drop EVERYTHING!
“Be still (soft voice)…and KNOW I AM God (roaring voice) Know, see, experience, be acquainted with, discover I AM GOD.” – Father God
Friend, I hear your response, “I cannot just drop everything.” YES. You can. Let go and let God. I hear other’s say , “ I cannot just take off three days from work and spend with God.”
That is my call, not yours. I am so very blessed, I know that. I am blessed to spend unlimited time with God, but I choose to spend it with Him. I could be doing other things. I could be playing 4 hours of golf (nothing wrong with that!), but have I been still and gotten in the presence of God. I could be watching a baseball game or TV show (nothing wrong with that), but how much time have I spent allowing God to reveal more of himself to me. I could be attempting to do my job and be frustrated by the push back of the day. I could come home from that long, trying day and choose to get lost in the web, reels, Twitter, Snapchat, or Instagram in an attempt to leave the weight of the day behind. All of those things are KNOWLEDGE, good or bad, but have I been still? Have I dropped everything to step into that Intimate place with Almighty, All Loving? Am I knowing Him? He is our Help. He is all power. He is our Strength. He is our Refuge and Shelter. He will be our everything if we allow Him.
God may not be calling you to a 3-day faith-cation! However, He might be calling you to a 10-day fishing trip with Him. He may be just calling you to put down your phone and spend 15 minutes a day with Him. I do not know your call. I do not know your situation. I do not answer your call. I do KNOW that He calls us all to be still. He calls us to drop everything at His feet. He calls us to throw it all down and to get to know Him. He is God. He can easily handle your anything, if you will just drop your everything.
I enCOURAGE YOU to be still. Drop everything at the throne of grace. Get to know GOD. Learn that He can handle it all and does not need our help. He wants to be in Your presence and you in His.
“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love…”(Eph 3:17 NKJV)
We had a mega windstorm come through our town, Friday, March 3, 2023. Hurricane force winds reached up to 79 miles per hour. Oddly enough, an out-of-town friend and I were out shopping in the middle of it. We were in a store when I got a warning call from my son that it was bad, and he had just watched a tree uproot near us. When we exited the store, it was difficult to walk against the wind to my car.
We looked to the right. The sky was dark gray, but to the left, we only saw the bluest skies. We decided to proceed with our lunch plans, but found our destination was without electricity from the barrage. We decided to head home, but after a brief chat and a look at the weather map, the blue skies over Clarksville drew us downtown. Alicia, my out-of-town friend, had not seen the city in years and it had changed a lot.
On the way into our small city, we began to see more damage. My husband called with news that the gusts hand blown the door open and off in one of the buildings on campus and that a tree had fallen on it. We continued our sight-seeing journey as the air around us continued to rampage and howl.
We attempted to catch up with my husband. In our pursuit, we witnessed a massive tree slowly uproot and fall to its death right between two houses. As we meandered, we saw more and more destruction. Finally, after catching up with Kris, we agreed that we should return to our respective houses. The path home was not straight nor direct. Turn after turn we encountered colossal trees overturned and blocking our way. I had to turn on the GPS to guide us home. Keep in mind, the bursts were still shaking my car. When we finally navigated into recognizable territory, we were jarred by an exploding transformer. We felt like we were in a “Mad Max” movie. Timbers were toppled and their carnage was everywhere. Stop lights and road signs were twisted, waved, and bent like nothing I had ever seen.
When we finally got home, it was a strain to open the car door against the forceful, unseen gales. We made it safely through the storm, but as I drove through our neighborhood, I saw multiple uprooted trees. Thankfully, only a few had claimed houses as their victims.
The next day, my husband and I were driving to help my mother- in-law pick up the debris in her yard. We were discussing the prior day’s events with a friend. We came to the exit of our subdivision and saw a large tree who had succumbed to the windstorm, laying on the ground with its roots resting perpendicular to the horizon. Its rootball was taller than the home. I stated, “It’s roots were just not deep enough to survive the storm.” (An encouragement idea birthed.) This was a scene that would repeat itself many times as we made our journey out into the country. The roots were not deep enough to sustain the wind.
A divine appointment came two days later, a devotion about none other than “Deep Roots.” The writer talked about research conducted on trees. I further found the study was conducted at Biosphere 2, a research facility in Arizona. Indoor habitats were created to see how things would grow in outer space. Many things thrived, but not trees. They grew fast but would fall over. The lack of wind did not allow the trees to develop stress wood. Wind causes small cracks to form in the tree’s wood when put under stress. Stress wood helps the tree strengthen, grow towards the light, and develop deep roots.
Although we do not welcome the windstorms of life that seek to uproot and move us from our steadfast position, they do make us stronger by creating spiritual stress wood.
Keep in mind… 1 Corinthians 10:13 and that a “temptation” could be a tempest, or a spiritual windstorm.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].
Now, looking again at the focus verse, how does God grow “stress wood” in our lives and help us bear through the storms?
“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love…”(Eph 3:17 NKJV)
We call on Him. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”(Jer 33:3 NKJV)
We ask in faith. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (Jas 1:6 NKJV) Faith keeps us aligned, strong, steady, and not tossed around by the winds.
He “grants” us according to riches of His glory. Grant means to give to the one asking. He answers us. He “lets-us-have-it” according to his abundant and limitless riches in glory.
He grants us to be strengthened with might in the inner man. We are made and grow strong in our inner core. Spiritual stress wood is created when we call on Him, grow and go deep with Him in faith. God thoughts are very deep. (Psa 92:5 NKJV). He reveals deep and secret things.(Dan 2:22 NKJV)
“But God has revealed [them] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”(1Co 2:10 NKJV).
This is the might. Might makes things happen. Might is the power for performing miracles. Might is the “can do.” Might is the dynamite to make impossible, possible. This is what we have inside working for us, the wonder working power of Christ. Feel any stronger? And all of this is simply through faith in Him.
God said in Jeremiah 33:3 that He would show us great and mighty things which we do not know. The word might in Jeremiah and Ephesians means the same thing. Things that are inaccessible, hidden, held back, and impossible to men. This is divine revelation and it strengthens us.
Being rooted. We become fixed, established, and rendered firm in Him. We grow deep roots in Him through faith and His revelation of the deep, secret, and mighty things. Scripture says, “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Col 2:7 NKJV)
Being grounded in love. God is love and we are made stable, established, and steadfast in Him alone. He is our very foundation.
“But thanks [be] to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. “(1Co 15:58 NKJV)
When we become rooted and grounded in Him, His love, His Word, and His revelation. We can be steadfast, not easily uprooted. In fact, we can be immovable trees of righteousness! We can be victorious through Him, not swayed when the storms and temptations of life come. They only make our inner man stronger
I enCOURAGE you to dig in. Dig into His word. Dig into His presence. Grow your roots deep in the love of God. Be strong, immovable, and not easily toppled. Do not let the tempest’s have their way with you like they did with the trees in Clarksville that March day.
I was reminded by my coffee cup this morning,
“God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.” (Psa 46:5 NKJV)
“God is within her; she will not fall; God will help her at break of day” (Psa 46:5 NIV)
Now, go back and slow read this verse and let it be your confession.
VIVA MAGENTA: Live! Breathe! Be…STRENGTHED, ROOTED and GROUNDED!
Wednesday, February 22, 2023, during prayer time with the “Cover Tennessee” gals, Holy Spirit stirred this word in my Spirit and I wrote Nehemiah 4:14 in my journal:
“After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives, and your homes.’” (Neh 4:14 NIV)
On February 26, 2023, just four days later, I arrived at Cornerstone Church in Athens, Georgia to hear Pastor preach part 1 of “Fight For Your Family.” Want to guess what scripture he led with? You got it, Nehemiah 4:14! The next week he preached, and I watched part 2. Below are 10 points, notes from his sermons, and links to listen. Good stuff.
FIGHT FOR MY FAMILY (pt. 1 & 2) by Pastor Scott Sheppard
“Feelings will help you fall in love, but you are going to have to fight to stay in love.” -Scott Sheppard
10 Fighting for Your Family Principals:
Repent right away. No fake apologies like, “Well, I am sorry I made you feel…” Only say, “I am sorry. I was wrong and I will not do it again.”
Forgive right away (and like crazy).
Love like Jesus. Love gives everything, love is not about what you can get but about what you can give.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 NKJV)
Why forgive like crazy? because we have been forgiven like crazy.
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV)
Choose to speak life. We either build up or break down with words.
“Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)
Speak each other’s love language. (“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman—Did I mention this book was in my bag at church because I was reading it at the same time?! )
Love language #1: Words of affirmation. … Love language #2: Acts of service. … Love language #3: Gifts. … Love language #4: Quality time. … Love language #5: Physical touch.
“Tell me what you want, what you really, really want.” What do you need me to do? Show and tell me. You cannot break up a marriage that serves one another.
Ask:
What do you need more or less of from me? Is there anything that’s making you feel second? Is there anything you need me to stop or stayer?
“Submit to one another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:21 NKJV)
Get the right help.
“For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors [there is] victory.”(Proverbs 24:6 NKJV)
Talk to Godly people! Don’t seek counsel from bitter people. Only take advice from people that have been where you want to go. Healthy family! Health life!
Don’t stop dating your spouse. Dating has nothing to do with money but making time for each other.
Continue to go after God. Fight for your time with God pursue Him.
“I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NKJV)
9: Do not quit!
“Love suffers long [and] is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never fails. But whether [there are] prophecies, they will fail; whether [there are] tongues, they will cease; whether [there is] knowledge, it will vanish away.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NKJV)
Hebrew word, ahvah: a love of my will. I choose to love you. Love you no matter. You cannot get rid of me. I am not going anywhere.
Stay connected to the Vine. Wounds are past and present. Relationship shrapnel is everywhere. We cannot do it on our own. We can do all through Him and nothing without Him. The enemy wants to destroy but…
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NKJV)
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (NKJV)
In presence of God things change—
Hurts are healed
Things turns around
Hope is restored
Confusion turns into clarity
BUT…
You have to fight to pursue God
You have to fight to stay connected.
You have to fight to stay connected to vine.
You have to fight to repent.
You have to fight to forgive.
You have to fight to speak words of encouragement.
I enCOURAGE YOU to fight for your families. Fight for your spouse! Fight for your sons! Fight for your daughters! Fight for your future generations! Fight for your homes!
Complete in Him 