Category: Uncategorized

by Tammy Phillips
December 16, 2021

“A good name [is] better than precious ointment…” (Ecclesiastes 7:1 NKJV)

A good name will get you far in life under the sun, and far in life over the sun.  There is an old saying, “It is not what you know, but who you know.”  It is a good name that carries us.  It is the good name of our family that opens doors.  A good name gains favor among men.

“A good character may be understood here and, assuredly, that is better than the rarest luxury of kings.” -C. Spurgeon

Solomon states that a good name is better than precious oil.  We may don the most expensive oils  in the form of  perfume.  We might physically smell good to ourselves and others, but unless we smell good before the Father, the precious ointment is worthless.  What is a good name? 

• A good name is being called by His name. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
• A good name is sanctification by God and preservation in Christ.  (Jude 1:1)
• A good name is being called chosen and faithful.  (Revelation 17:14)
• A good name becomes the righteousness of God in Him.  (1 Corinthians 5:21)
• A good name is  written in the Lambs book of life. Revelation 21:27 NKJV)
• A good name is engraved in the palm of our savior that gain us entrance to everything that is not under the sun.  (Isaiah 49:16)

“A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches…” (Proverbs 22:1 KJV)

I enCOURAGE you to keep you word.  Strengthen your name.  Build your character. I encourage you to care about your reputation “under the sun.”  We are only as good as our word.  God is good and has good Name because He has never ever, not once, broken His promise.  He keeps His word, and we should, too.  However, the most important thing is our name “over the sun” be found in Him and that our names are not erased from the Book of Life.  Our current names our good in Him, but I look forward to the new name we will be given because we are in Him.

“ To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives [it].”  –Jesus, King of Kings, Name above every name, the Best name. (Revelation 2:17 NKJV)

 

 

 

 

 

by Tammy Phillips
December 15, 2021

“Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV)

Do not be…

• rash, the Hebrew word,  bahal  meaning:
• trouble
• hasty
• hasten anxiously
• afraid
• dismayed
• tremble inwardly
• suddenly alarmed or agitated
• amazed
• …with your mouth

This statement is a mouth full in itself.   “Do not be rash with your mouth.”  We need to stop and  think about what we say and pray.  If we would only stop and think before we speak to God.

Websters 1828 dictionary defines rash as:

1. Hasty in council or action; precipitate; resolving or entering on a project or measure without due deliberation and caution, and thus encountering unnecessary hazard; applied to persons.
2. Uttered or undertaken with too much haste or too little reflection.
3. Requiring haste; urgent.
4. Quick; sudden. (http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/rash )

Holy Spirit has been telling me to go low and slow.  Here is yet another lesson about slowing down. We all would be better off if we would slow down  and not speak suddenly or out of fear. 

Do not let your heart be…

• hasty, the Hebrew word, mahar, meaning:
  liquid or flow easily
• in a hurry
• carried headlong
• fearful
• quick
• speedy
• in a rush
• sudden
• swift

…to utter a word before God.

In this portion of the verse,  we are instructed again to think about what we are praying about.  We are not to spew to God.   Our words are not to be liquid before Him.  We are not to beg God in fear, but come to Him in faith, believing that He is more than able to answer any  petition prayed according to His word.

God is in heaven, and you are on earth.

God is God after all.    “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8 NKJV)  We do not need to waste His time nor ours.  Remember…

“Short and sweet brings defeat.” -Me

Therefore, let your words be few.

Matthew reiterates Solomon’s words:  “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen [do]. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7 NKJV)

I enCOURAGE you with the words of the wisest man.  Do not be rash with your mouth. Do not let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God. God is God and we are not.   Let your words be few.  Do not make promises you cannot keep.  We are only as good as our word. Think before you speak, and your face won’t turn pink. “A fool’s voice is known by his many words.” (Ecclesiastes 5:3 NKJV) 

“Therefore, the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,” (Isaiah 29:13 NKJV)

by Tammy Phillips
December 14, 2021

“Two [are] better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him [who is] alone when he falls, For [he has] no one to help him up.  Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm [alone]?  Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NKJV)

God’s timing is always perfect.  This encouragement could not have been a better on-time message for me. I was kind of done.  I was wandering back into my turtle shell of “safety.”  I just wanted to be alone.  If I was alone, then nobody could hurt nor disappoint.  I could not hurt nor disappoint anyone if I withdrew into my shell and remained silent.  This lasted for most of a whole day.  Then the Holy Spirit reminded me…

Two are better than one because…

1. “They have a good reward for their labor.”

Two working together will always accomplish more than one working alone. 
Two can bounce ideas off each other. 
Two can cut labor time in half.
Two can produce more than one.
Two can “bear each other’s burdens.” (Galatians 6:2)

2. “If they fall, one will lift up his companion.”

Two knitted together can help each other.
If one associate is cast down ,  the other fellow can lift the spirit of his ally.  
If one is discouraged, the other can offer encouragement.
If one is weak, they are united and  can offer the other strength.

3. “But woe to him [who is] alone when he falls, For [he has] no one to help him up.”

Everybody needs help.  We were not mean to do life alone.  Alone is where the enemy wants us.

“[As] iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17 NKJV)

When one falls into sickness, lack, error, offense, or sin, the other is there to help, pray for, and encourage the other.  We are there for each other to turn the proverbial frown upside for our friend.   We are there to help one another stand in truth and to strengthen one other.

4. “If two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm [alone]?”

Two provide comfort each other. When we become indifferent, begin to waver, drift into alone or from love,  it is our siblings in Christ who hold us accountable. 

“And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. “ (Hebrews 10:24-25 CSB)

It’s the fire of the Holy Spirit inside of one that stirs the waning fire in the other and warms the soul. 

5. “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.”

Two can withstand.  There is safety in two.  When Satan comes knocking, it is good to know that someone else has “got your back.” As Christians we travel and traverse this life together.  We resist together and we are stronger for it.  We are not ignorant of his schemes. Together, we pray believe and withstand him. We stand together. We remain, endure, continue, abide, persist, be steadfast and  stand upright, together.

“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NKJV)

6. “And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Add God to the mix and two are not easily torn apart nor pulled away.  The cord is solid.

“Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV)

I enCOURAGE you to find a friend (or friends) who will stick with you through thick and thin; ups and downs;  good times and bad;  peace and battles; victories and defeats. I enCOURAGE you to find a friend who will pray with you and who will stand with you. I enCOURAGE you to find a friend who will always welcome God to be right in the middle of your journey. 

I am so thankful for my husband, my sisters, and brothers in Christ who I walk with through this life.

by Tammy Phillips
December 13, 2021

“I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does [it],
that men should fear before Him.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14 NKJV)

Family, spouses, parents, children, friends, loved ones, colleagues, pastors, church family,  national, state, and local leaders, even our favorites sports teams, disappoint.  Conditions are put on love and acceptance.  Hopes are crushed.  Words spoken are not kept.   Expectations are not met.  Nothing seems to last forever.  However, everything that God does IS forever.  Whatever He does is eternal, complete, and  secure.  The LORD does forever so that we will be amazed by Him.  Who else can do forever?

GOD IS FOREVER.

God’s Name is forever. (Exodus 3:15 )
God is King forever. (Psalm 10:16)
God’s rule is forever. (Psalm 66:7)
God’s reign is forever. (Exodus 3:18)
God remains forever. (Lamentations 5:19)
God’s throne is forever. (Psalm 45:6 )
God’s kingdom is forever. (Luke 1:33)

He will never ever be defeated.

God’s precepts are forever. (Psalm 111:7-8 )
God’s truth is forever. (Psalm 117:2 )
God’s word is forever. (Psalm 119:89)
God’s word lives forever. (1 Peter 1:23)

He never ever goes back on His word.  He is the Word!

God’s counsel is forever. (Psalm 33:11)
God’s is our guide forever. (Psalm 48:14 )
“Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV)

He always instructs us and teach us the way to go.

God is steadfast forever. (Daniel 6:26)
God’s steadfast love endures forever. ( Psalm 107:1, Romans 8:38-39)
God’s mercy endures forever. ( 1 Chronicles 16:34 )
God’s glory is forever. (Psalm 104:31)

He extends His mercy and loving kindness.  
He talks about His forever mercy more than any other “forever” in the Bible. 

God’s righteousness endures and is forever. (Psalm 111:3, Isaiah 51:8)
God’s forgiveness is forever. (Micah, 7:18, 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 1:7)
God’s salvation is forever. (Isaiah 51:6)
God’s saints are preserved forever. (Psalm 37:28)
God’s servant children who do His will abide and reign forever. (1 John 2:17 , Revelation 22:5  )
God swallowed up death forever. (Isaiah 25:8)
God lives forever.  (Revelation 5:14)

He is all things, forever. 

I enCOURAGE you with the word of the LORD to Moses, “‘Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!’”(Deuteronomy 5:29 NKJV)

Dear God:   We know that no one else  can do forever.  You are the ONLY ONE who we can trust with our eternity!  You alone love us unconditionally for always.    I pray that you give each person who reads this encouragement Your vision of  forever. “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:13 NKJV). “To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion, and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:25 NKJV).

by Joanne Ross
December 12, 2021

“Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.” (Psalm 119:91 NLT)

My son and granddaughter live in California.  I was on the ball and sent their Christmas gifts out early. They arrived without delay…to the WRONG address.  I realized on a Tuesday that I had sent the gifts to the incorrect address.   They were misdirected but had arrived.  I cried out, “Oh, Lord, I need your help!  I sure can’t see the divine appointment in this.”    I declared soon after Holy Spirit gave me Psalm 119:91, “This can serve you plans.”

I confessed my mistake to my son, Kevin, the next day.   He drove the short fifteen minutes to “wrong” address on Wednesday in hopes of gathering their gifts. The residents were not home.  He left them a note with his contact information.

Thursday morning…

Answered Prayer!! Kevin received a call back from the family that I accidentally sent he & Izzy’s gifts to.  He said she was Middle Eastern and very nice. She said—in a rather thick accent, “Thank God, you left me the note last night with your number…I was going to take everything to the Post Office this morning.” She was so excited to connect with him.  It sounds like she may have been praying too. She was very honest and nice like I had prayed for! She even gave them a gift—a big box of chocolates.

I decided to send them a “Thank you for saving Christmas!” gift back. She has three children: 2 girls & one boy–ages 13,12 and 8.  The boy is the youngest.  The excited children had opened the first box before they realized the gifts were not for them.  Please say a prayer of blessings upon them with me—God is so good—even when we make silly mistakes.  It had been five years since Kevin lived at that house.

When I shared the story with sister Carol.  She replied, “Oh my goodness!! God is so wonderful!!  What a sweet story with God’s fingerprints all over it and such a sweet woman to even give a blessing of chocolates!  Praying the Lord will bless her richly in return.”

It is the sweetest story of God’s grace, provision and plan even in our mistakes.

I enCOURAGE you to know that His word is true and  “everything does serve His plans.”  They blessed us and now we are going to bless them.  I have told this story to a few sisters.  Along with me, they are sending gifts boxes to the sweet family that saved Christmas for my family.  And it was all in God’s plan!

December 11, 2021

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV)

My husband, Kris,  received his Master of Science in Leadership yesterday at the ripe old age of fifty-two.  I am beyond excited and so very proud of him.  He decided during the corona  shutdown to pursue his graduate degree.  He told me, “You study all the time.  I think I will, too.” Study, he did.  He was tirelessly committed to excelling and earning his Masters’ degree.

The difference between Kris and I is that I am blessed to rise early and study as long as I desire. 

He, on the other hand, worked full-time as Vice President of Advancement at Austin Peay State University. He hosted and attended a multitude of after-work events as necessitated by his occupation. Somehow, by the grace of God, he then found the strength and endurance  to write, write, write into the wee hours of the night, as required by his class load.  And, since he had nothing else to do, he worked out at Orange Theory five days a week and lost close to fifty pounds.  The man worked!!  He resolutely labored hard for everything he earned and attained.  I cannot cheer for him loud enough!!!

 I share his story to show the depth of commitment required to attain.  I AM SO THANKFUL that we do not have earn our salvation, nor do we have to pass a test to graduate or to garner our ticket to eternity.  No checklist has to be completed.  No work has to be done.  Jesus did it ALL for us on the cross.  He paid the price.  He worked tirelessly for the Father.  He sacrificed.  He was THE Sacrifice.  He, alone, earned our way into “forever.”  It was by grace that He saved  us through faith. It is not us!  We cannot do anything to earn salvation. We cannot do better, give more , nor work harder to gain entrance into the Father’s presence.  It is Jesus alone.  It is the gift of God.  It is not our works.

What a gift we were given! 

I enCOURAGE you to work hard.  It has its rewards.  More importantly, I enCOURAGE you to accept the gift of God, Jesus.   I could not share with you a greater present at Christmas than Jesus.  I couldn’t gift you a car, a Rolex, an island, or even pay off all your bills.  They all pale in comparison to the sacrificial gift God gave us.  His name is Jesus.  Accept God’s free gift.  Invite Him into every area of your life. 

Then…you can start working on your rewards.  Yes, God is a giving God.  We don’t have to work our way to Him, but what we do for Him and how we obey His word, He rewards.

“For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:27 NKJV)

“Now he who plants, and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” (1 Corinthians 3:8 NKJV)

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward [is] with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.”(Jesus, Revelation 22:12 NKJV)

by Tammy Phillips
December 10, 2021

The word “go” appears in the King James Version of the Bible 1492 times.   Jesus told people to go often after He had healed them.  When one exclaims, “GO!”  It is word or shout of encouragement.  The word “go “simply means to journey; to traverse; to move; to pass; to proceed from one place; to walk; to move on the feet or step by step; to proceed or advance in accomplishing an end; to do it.  The Lord use “go” as a commissioning word. He told:

• Noah when to go in and out of the Ark. (Genesis 6:18 , 8:16  )
• Moses to go to Pharaoh, and say, “Let my people go.” (Exodus 6:11 , Exodus 8:1 )
• Joshua to go to war. (Joshua 8:1)
• Haggai to go up to the mountains… ( Haggai 1:8 )
• The rich young ruler, “If you want to be perfect, go…(Matthew 19:21 )
• Us to go. ( Matthew 28:19 , Mark 16:15 )

God likes the word go.  It makes up two-thirds of His name in how we spell it.   God is always on the move and wants us to be on the move as His agents. He wants us to “walk by faith ” and proceed on our journey.  We are kingdom people who have kingdom work to do in and for Him.  We are commissioned to “go in faith.”  Like Noah, Holy Spirit will lead us in and out of the places to go.  One of my guiding scriptures, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” (Psalm 32:8 NKJV)

If the Lord has not given you specific directions on which way to go, be still.  Keep doing what you are doing. He will. Ask Him.  He has your marching orders, and they are for a specific time and place.  When it is time, He will tell us to go.  We just have to be obedient to go and believe.

There is a second part to the “going.”  We have permission and must ask God to “go” for us in the name of Jesus.  Jesus said:

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask anything in My name, I will do [it].” (John 14:13-14 NKJV)

Let’s play a little substitution game.  “Go” can mean “do.”  In which case, John 14:13-14 could read like this:  “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will ‘go’, that the Father may be glorified in the Son .”If you ask anything in My name, I will ‘go.’”

We have to be like the centurion who asked Jesus to heal His servant and believed that Jesus would.  The centurion knew at the very word of Jesus that the Word would go and heal his servant.  AND IT DID!  (Matthew 8:5-13 NKJV)

“Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, [so] let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.” (Matthew 8:13 NKJV)

Once we have asked the Lord to go on our behalf, we must believe and keep on going.  We must be confident enough in Jesus that He can handle our request and then we just continue going on our everyday journey. 

In the Cover Tennessee Prayer group, I believe JoAnne Ross started this cheer about two months ago in one of our text/prayer threads, “GO, JESUS, GO!”  As a group, we have asked and believed.  Jesus has really gone for us.   He has brought a loved one back to life from death (for real!),  healed bodies, marriages, aches, pains, and brokenness.  He has escorted other loved ones into His presence.  He has supplied supernatural provision.  He has made the way when there was no way.   I could go on and on.  We have been amazed by Him.  He has done exceedingly, abundantly, above what we could ever ask or believe.  Our official cheer of thankfulness and encouragement back to our loving Father  for His action and answers has become, “Go, God, go!”   These are the testimonies that I have shared over the last four days.  I will continue to share as they come in.

I enCOURAGE you to ask and believe God for whatever you need.  He will go for you, too.  He will also answer and show you which way to go.  When He answers, and He will, remember to thank Him, and say, “Go, God, go!”    “Afterwords, ” share your story with me and I will share it with the “world.”  

 

 

By Tammy Phillips
December 9,  2021 

“I know that nothing [is] better
for them than to rejoice,
and to do good in their lives,
and also, that every man
should eat and drink and enjoy
the good of all his labor—
it is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 NKJV)

I have seen “MERRY AND BRIGHT”  EVERYWHERE since I read this verse and started this encouragement.  I could only laugh when I saw the words on a big sign in our hotel lobby!  I have seen them on shirts, mugs, ornaments.  I suppose  as much as I love, “Falala,” MERRY AND BRIGHT are the 2021 words for the season for me.  I cannot seem to run away from them. 

Where does “MERRY AND BRIGHT” have to do with Ecclesiastes 3:12-13?  Glad you asked.   It comes from a treasure hunt of the word rejoice.   Early in life, I would ask my stepfather what a word meant.  He would curtly say, “Look it up!”  I do not know if it was because he didn’t know the answer or because he wanted me to learn the meaning.  I have learned the love and  joy of the treasure hunt in looking up the meaning of words in the Hebrew and Greek.   There is usually an explosion of light and meaning in the words.  For instance, “rejoice” is the  Hebrew word, samah, which means be glad; cheer up; be merry; brighten up. You got it.  Rejoice means “Be MERRY AND BRIGHT!”

“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance…” (Proverbs 15:13 NKJV)

Solomon, said to be the wisest man ever, declared that nothing is better than to be merry and bright!  He also followed that statement up with do good in your lives, eat drink, and enjoy what you have worked for.  Do good; eat, and drink.   Be MERRY AND BRIGHT.  It is the gift of God.  God expects and want us to work hard.  The fruit of that labor is to enjoy life.  It our choice.  We can choose to be merry.  We can choose to be bright, or we can choose to be a fright.  “Merry  and Bright” is a gift of God and it’s ours for the taking. 

Why do you think we say, “Merry Christmas?”  We encourage others with our words.  We urge others to enjoy the season and to celebrate Jesus.

“‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You’ was the verse that was shown on the first commercially available Christmas card in 1843. Christmases has been merry long before that though. The use of ‘Merry Christmas’ as a seasonal-salutation dates back to at least 1534, when, on 22nd December, Bishop John Fisher wished the season’s greetings in a letter to Thomas Cromwell, recorded in Strype Ecclesiastical memorials, 1816):

‘And this our Lord God send you a Merry Christmas, and a comfortable, to your heart’s desire.’” (https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/merry-christmas.html)

I enCOURAGE you not to get caught up in the nonsense of the season.  We just have to keep focus on the reason, Jesus!  Spread the joy.  Enjoy your gifts!  Share you gifts!  Share Jesus! Be MERRY & BRIGHT!  And don’t forget, “Merry Christmas!”

“A merry heart does good, [like] medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 NKJV)

by Beverly Adkins
December 8, 2021

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV)

Let me start by saying, God has intervened in so many areas of my life.  It would be impossible to write them all!  There are many that I will possibly never know about until  I see him face to face.

 I will share without all the details how God intervened in an area that affected our whole family.  It was 21 years ago that I felt my world had fallen apart.  Our family was being torn apart by all of Satan’s schemes!  We went to church every Sunday, raised our children in church, yet Satan had slipped into our home and was destroying our family unit!  Our marriage was over…the days were dark, and the nights were darker…But God! The LORD moved in and began to soften our hearts.  God gave us a wonderful church family that loved us! God gave us a wonderful pastor and wife that loved and prayed for us diligently!  We cried out to God like never before.  Every day, we looked for the positive things that God was revealing to us through this storm.  I truly learned to praise God in the storm.  God is the Healer!  He healed our marriage, strengthened our love for one another,  and for Him!  We have two wonderful children with two wonderful spouses and 5 grandchildren.  Every time we are all together, we rejoice that our family was healed and are all together!  Thank you, God,  for healing and restoring our family! 

Sometimes, we don’t realize we are just going through motions. Going to church, check; quick prayer, check;  quick Bible read, check.  God wants our hearts not a check list.  Satan can slip right in an attempt to steal, kill, and destroy.  It is his mission (John 10:10)  In the dark days healing did not come instantly.  Jeremiah 29:11 is the verse I clung to. God always has a better plan. 

I enCOURAGE you to allow God  to slip in and overcome the plans of the enemy.  Don’t run from Him and His people. Lean into Him!  Invite Him in to shine His light in your darkest place’s. Let Him heal your brokenness.  He will.  He did it for me and my family.  He will do it for you!

Carefully, invite Christian brothers and  sisters in.  We do not need to do life alone.  When you can’t pray for yourself have your Christian friends pray for you.  I remember so well talking to my pastor and telling him, “I don’t even know how to pray right now.”  He said let us do that for you!

“God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2 KJV)

 

(Beverly and David Adkins opened their home and were our small group leaders.  for  the “Doing Life Together” group.  She is one of the funniest people you will ever meet.  She exudes joy and the love of the Lord.)

by Josephine Crestman
December 7, 2021

“But God has shown me that he doesn’t think anyone is unclean or unfit.”  (Acts 10:28 CEV)

My husband Mike has dementia and much of the time he is in his own world.  Times are few and far between that I get a glimpse of the man I married and still dearly love.  He is so precious to me, and I am devoted to him. We still do everything we can together.

My sister’s son-in-law was being ordained in Little Rock, Arkansas.  We planned on driving and taking my parents to the celebration.  My sister informed me that Mike and I were not welcome because of Mike’s dementia.  My parents had already asked me for a ride so went on and drove them. We dropped them at the door, dressed in our best Sunday duds.  I had hoped that my sister would change her mind.  My niece ushered my parents in and sent us away with , “Thanks for bringing them. Bye.”

During the return trip, I began to wonder if maybe we were a bother to our new church.  They had been very nice to us.  I questioned how they really felt.  When my own blood sister excludes us from a family event and a makes us feel so unwelcomed, makes one a bit self-conscious.

Soon after our return, we were at our church’s “Prayer and Praise.”  A lady who I had seen before but had not had the pleasure of meeting came up to me.  She sweetly hugged me and said, “We are so thankful to have you at our church. We are blessed watching you take care of him. We love watching him dance when he worships.” I thank God that our church loves us like Jesus.

God is so good. He answered my question with His love and the love of my church family.  This is not unusual.  He answers and speaks to me so often. I  am always amazed and  exceptionally appreciative, but never surprised!! God loves his children!

“The crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God and healed those who needed healing.” (Luke 9:11 NIV)

I enCOURAGE you to love unconditionally like Jesus.  

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7 NIV)

(Josephine is an incredible sister in Christ and wife to Mike.  Her love for Mike is a beautiful thing to see.  The Lord led our prayer group to her through a miraculous chain of events.  As a group, we have prayed, and are believing for the healing of Mike’s mind.   Please join us in praying for them.)