“And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.” (Matthew 8:24 NKJV)
Lately, I have heard this word rise in my Spirit…suddenly. The Websters 1821 dictionary defines suddenly as: in an unexpected manner. Another definition of suddenly is opening of the eyes, a moment. Think how fast we can blink and open our eyes. God can and will act that fast on our behalf.
I was sitting on the beach the other day and thought this would be such a cool example of God’s suddenly. It is just like God to do things in an unexpected manner…in an instant…in the twinkling of eye. He is God.
Watch what happens from 11:28 AM until 1:39 PM. It started as a beautiful sunshiny day.
11:34 AM The clouds turn from light to gray in five minutes.11:35 AM. Yet one minute later the gray clouds disappearBut then to the left they get a little darker 11:36 AMDeluge to the left of me. 11:47 AM 12:01 PM. Clear skies in from of me 12:06 PM A beautiful rainbow cloud forms1:29 PM Big storm returns1:39 PM Big Storm hovering over me
Storms will come and storms will go just as fast as they come. This was one crazy day when the LORD showed me how fast suddenly really is. He enlightened me on how fast He can do anything. When He speaks to the storms of life, the great calm will come suddenly.
“But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” (Matthew 8:26 NKJV)
I enCOURAGE you to trust in God’s suddenly for your life. There was a woman who had a blood problem for twelve years. She was waiting on her suddenly. It showed up in the hem of the garment of Jesus. We never know how He is going to do what we are asking. We just have to seek Him for our suddenly and let Him work it out.
“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. And the woman was made well from that hour.” (Matthew 9:20,22 NKJV)
“Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts [is] His name):” (Jeremiah 31:35 NKJV)
We came to Kiawah Island to celebrate the wedding of my nephew, Josh Rye to his college love. Kaylee Taff. We came a few days early to continue celebrating our 28th anniversary and to grab a little beach time. Sadly, the forecast for much of the week was rain. I told my mother it did not matter that I would be sitting on the beach in the rain, if that was the case.
The first day was very overcast. Needless to say, I packed up the necessities, water, chair, and a good book at off to the shore I went. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with what the sky was displaying, but so elated to be in my happy place. Then I heard the LORD speak to me so simply, “Gray days are ray days.” The sun still shines and lights the sky. The warmth of its kiss and the touch of its rays can still be felt. We cannot see the sun, but it is still hanging and shining high in the sky. It does not bow nor concede its place to the gray. The sun only allows the silver sky to obscure its glory for short few minutes in time. Then “suddenly,” powerfully and ever strongly, a hole opens in the sky and the rays of the sun declare its glory.
Isn’t that just like the LORD? We cannot see the LORD, but He is always in our life, lighting our days. His presence can always be felt. Gray days may come, and obstacles may block our view of seeing clearly. However, stormy, gray days of life are still touched by His rays. Wait just a little while and the “suddenlies” will come breaking through the gray, declaring His glory, and lighting the way. While we are waiting, we should bask in the richness of the silvery, gray heavens. All the while, knowing that the golden sky that is hidden behind is worth the wait and just a breakthrough away. Enjoy the gray days because…
Gray days are ray days. We should realize His presence is still touching our lives.
Gray days are pray days. We should expectantly pray for the gold that is just one breakthrough away.
Grays days are say days. We should declare His word and trust in His promises over our lives.
Gray days are lay days. We should be content no matter where we are and layout in surrender before Him
Grays days are pay days. When we question why we have to endure the gray, we are missing out on the richness of the silver days.
Grays days are vacay days. We should resort to the LORD on these days and delight in His presence.
Gray days are way days. We should understand that through the gray the LORD will show us the way.
Gray days are my kind of days. Really, gray days are days like any other.
I enCOURAGE you to embrace your gray days. Every day really is a great day when we walk it out with our Savior. The gentle whisper of the Lord changed my whole attitude about gray days. It gently rained most of the first day. There were little break throughs where I could barely see the white ball of the fiery sun through shadowy sky. When I arrived back to our villa, I could visibly see where the sun had left its mark on my skin. It had been active and working. I just couldn’t really see it. Remember, gray days are still ray days where the Lord, our Dayspring, is still working, even though we might not see Him.
The word “blessed” has gained new meaning to me. The word of God is so rich. Often, we think we know what a word means but, when we discover what it truly and fully means, it is a light bulb moment. Blessed is the Hebrew word: ‘ešer: happy. It is derived from: ‘āšar, meaning:
To be prosperous
To be straight
To be upright
To be erect
To be right
To be level
To be happy
To go forward
To be on the right way
Additionally, the implied meaning could mean aligned, centered and plumb. Everywhere the word “blessed” is used in the scripture below, one can replace it with any of the words listed above. I love it. Being out of line can wreak havoc on any given situation. Walking in the blessing is straight up happiness.
Blessed is the man…
…Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, …Nor stands in the path of sinners, …Nor sits in the seat of the scornful. (Psalm 1:1 NKJV)
Behold, happy is the man…
…whom God corrects. Therefore, do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. (Job 5:17 NKJV)
Blessed is he…
…Whose transgression is forgiven, …Whose sin is covered. (Psalm 32:1)
Blessed is the man…
…to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, …and in whose spirit, there is no deceit. (Psalm 32:2 NKJV)
Blessed is the nation…
…Whose God [is] the LORD. (Psalm 33:12 NKJV)Blessed is the man… …who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34:8 NKJV)
Blessed is the man…
…Whose strength is in You, …Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5)
Blessed is the man…
…Who trusts in You! (Psalm 84:12 NKJV)
Blessed are those…
…Who keep justice and …Who does righteousness at all times! (Psalm 106:3 NKJV)
Blessed is the man…
…Who fears the LORD, …Who delights greatly in His commandments. (Psalm 112:1 NKJV)
Blessed are those…
…Who keep His testimonies, …Who seek Him with the whole heart! (Psalm 119:2 NKJV)
Blessed is everyone…
…Who fears the LORD, …Who walks in His ways. (Psalm 128:1 NKJV)
…Who listens to me, …Watching daily at my gates, …Waiting at the posts of my doors. (Proverbs 8:34 NKJV)
Happy is the man…
…Who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. (Proverbs 28:14 NKJV)
I enCOURAGE you to count your blessings. Walk in your blessings. Be thankful. Be grateful. I enCOURAGE you to be obedient to the word of God and BE BLESSED.
“The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you And give you peace.” ‘ (Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV)
“And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.” (2 Chronicles 16:12 NKJV)
Asa was King of Judah for 41 years. He did good and right in the eyes of the LORD. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD and observe the law and commandments. When his enemy came knocking, he cried for help to the Lord. The Lord struck and defeated Judah’s enemy. Obed then prophesied: “The LORD [is] with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. You, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” Asa took courage and removed idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin. He also restored the altar of the LORD. All Judah made a joyful covenant with the Lord. They swore with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul. The Lord was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around. No wars.
But then…Asa did his own thing. He relied on his own wisdom when Israel began to rise against Judah. He went to seek help and made peace with King of Syria instead of going to the Lord and asking for help. The Lord sent Hanani to tell Asa: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of [those] whose heart [is] loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”(2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV). Asa got angry with this message and started oppressing some of his people. He then got a really bad foot disease. Again, relying on His wisdom, He only sought help from the physicians and not the Lord. Two years later, he was dead.
Asa spent most of his life seeking the Lord, but in the end, he failed to seek Him in his sickness, and it ultimately led to his death.
What is the first thing we do when we get really ill? Is it seek the LORD? People get all “heebie-jeebies” about healing. Most run to the doctor before they turn to the Lord. Asa was bad off, yet he did not seek the Lord. He only put trust in other physicians, not THE Great Physician.
Our God is Jehovah Rapha, the LORD who heals. (Exodus 15:26) The LORD who mends by stitching. The LORD who sews up our wounds. The LORD who cures. The LORD who repairs. The LORD who restores to pristine felicity. The LORD who thoroughly, makes whole.
If we trust that God is the Creator who perfectly made all of us, shouldn’t we also trust that He can heals us? Would you ever wish any sickness son your child to teach them a lesson? Then why in this world do you think our all-loving Father would do that? And, if we have the odd thought that it is God will for us to ever be sick, then why would we pray to get better? Why go to the doctor? God does not make people sick; He heals people. Our bodies were made to heal. Our skin repairs itself when cut. When we break a bone, it grows back together. When we bruise our body, it fades with time.
Who do we put our trust in when sickness and disease come knocking? Do we rely on our own wisdom and turn first to our personal doctors or do we turn to the Lord, first? The Lord has a purpose for doctors. He uses them to aid Him in the healing process. However, they are not God. They are simply physicians, not the GREAT PHYSICIAN.
I enCOURAGE you to resort to the LORD. Call Him first. He has all the answers to your health questions, then, if need be, reach out to your doctor. He will lead and guide you and your doctors. Asa made the mistake of forgetting about the Lord and putting all his trust in his physicians. Big mistake. In fact, it was fatal. Do not make the same fatal mistake. The LORD wants you whole, healed, and complete…body, mind, and soul. Turn to Him first! Jesus paid for our healing with his blood and death. Take it, it is yours as a child of the King!
“You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.” (Psalm 44:4-5 NKJV)
I don’t know who your Daddy is, but this is who my Daddy is…
You are my King, O God!
Command victories for us.
Charge salvation
Give orders to help
Commission deliverance
Constitute health
Appoint defense
Set up safety and rescue
THROUGH KING JESUS we will…
Push down our enemies
Thrust at our adversaries
Gore our distresses
Pierce what presses us
Head butt our troubles
Wage war with our afflictions
THROUGH HIS NAME we will…
Tread them under
Trample them down
Walk by faith
Reject them
Kick them out
…that rise up against us.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
I enCOURAGE you to tuck this verse away in your arsenal. When the enemy comes knocking, take your authority as a child of the King, Chief of Completeness and Prince of Peace. Know through Him it is finished! Your enemies are defeated. Don’t run from your enemy, what scares you, nor what you are afraid of. Face it head on. Head butt your enemy!
Believe it or not, I have multiple women in my life who have defeated cancer, survived divorce, watched their husbands remarry, suffered through singleness, persevered past additional unhealthy relationships, and endured multiple trials with their children that are still standing and believing in the faithfulness of the Lord. One of those friends was a little sad and discouraged over the weekend. With her permission, here is our real-life conversation…
HURTING: I am exhausted. I slap a fake smile on my face with hope in my heart, waiting for my suddenly and then more hurt.
ME: I hear your pain. Sorry…keep on!
HURTING: I will. Just feeling a little sorry for myself. I know my God is bigger than all of it. Thanks for letting me whine.
ME: Always, and YES, HE IS. Tomorrow, when your feet hit the floor. EXERCISE your faith. Get a word from the Lord and anytime the sad comes…throw faith at it. You win. ✌🏼Victory.
(Fast forward 8 ½ hours to 6:30 AM…)
HURTING: My word is “push.” Push through to the other side of this season. Push through the hurt and pain. Push through to the good that God has for me. And push back against Satan’s attacks.
(I quickly searched “push” through my Blue Letter Bible app. I really was not expecting to find “push” in the Bible, but I did. It appears nine times. One scripture was right on!)
ME: Perfect! Bam. Drop the mike! Watch this.
HURTING: Watch what?
ME: You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob (fill in your name)! Through You I will PUSH down my enemies; Through Your name I will trample those who rise up against me. Psalms 44:4-5 NKJV
Sadness is your enemy! You trample sadness through His name. Loneliness is your enemy. You trample loneliness in His name. Discouragement is your enemy. You trample discouragement in His name. This verse is exactly what you are doing! 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽. Praise God!
HURTING turns to HEALING: I’m trying so hard!!
ME: No, you are not trying, you are doing it! Satan is a liar! He has tried to steal everything he can from you but no more! He cannot steal your joy! He cannot steal your peace. Not today! You are going to push and praise through the pain for the victory!
(I didn’t think push would even be in the Bible. It only appears 9 times in the whole Bible, but it was!)
HEALING: I used to run half marathons. The last three miles were the worst. My friends and I used to talk about pushing through to the end. It was the hardest part but so glorious when we crossed the finish line. I hope that’s where I am.
Me,COACH PHILLIPS: Hello? That is it! You know how you told me you put a fake smile on your face, hope in your heart, waiting on your suddenly…that is walking by faith. You have to throw the expectation of hurt in the trash, but you are walking into what you are waiting for, your destiny, when you get up and go and push through! You are overcoming. No, it is not easy, and it is hard! But… you are not alone in the race!
ME: YOU WIN THE BATTLE IN THE MIND!
HEALING: (Sends me the picture above)
ME: 🤣🤣🤣. There you go!!!! Marching in your truth!
I enCOURAGE you push back on sadness, loneliness, discouragement, and any obstacle that sets itself against you. Be strong and courageous! Jesus died for you to live life abundantly! Ask the Lord to command your victories. Through Him and His word, PUSH down your enemies! Through the Name of Jesus trample anything that might dare rise up against you. Overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of YOUR testimony. (Revelation 12:11 KJV). Push it!
I love the Lord. He takes me on some crazy train rides and treasures hunts through His word. I was attempting to figure out who Asa was in the Old Testament, but instead I found the following verse. It captured my attention.
” And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.” (2 Chronicles 13:22 KJV)
Abijah was faithful and important enough to be mentioned in the Bible along with Iddo, the prophet. He was like Solomon, whose WHOLE story also did not make the Bible, but was recorded in the book of Nathan, in the prophecy of Abijah and in the vision of Iddo. (1 Chronicles 9:29) Honestly, in my ignorance, I never thought about the Lord using other prophets, other than the major and minor prophets in the Bible. I thought they were it. Clearly, Iddo was a prophet, as he was mentioned several times in that role.
Where did this lead me? Humorous Holy Spirit use the obscure search and verse of 2 Chronicles 13:22 to show me that He performed perfecting edits even in making the Bible. As Author and Editor, He allowed, Abidah and Iddo to make the cut with a few mentions in the Bible. However, the rest of the story of Abijah can be found in the writings of Iddo, but not in the Bible.
The acts of Rehoboam were written in the book of Shemaiah. (2 Chron 12:15) Shemaiah is called a man of God who the word of God came to, but He did not get his publication in the Bible, either. Scripture mentions others who wrote books like Jehu and Nathan, but their records are not found in the Old Testament. Their works were important because the word of God mentions them. God used these men, but when He made the final edit of the Bible, their books were excluded.
Interesting fact, although there is not a book in the Bible called Iddo, his grandson, Zechariah, made the cut.
God is the Author and Editor of our lives, too. “Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.” (Psalm 139:16 CSB) He wrote our perfect stories with a perfect beginning, middle and end. Along came choice and redirects our stories, accordingly. The Lord when invited, then enters our wrong choices and difficulties. He works with Holy Ghost ink and edits our stories. Instead of heart breaking, He writes healing on our heart. Instead of discouraged, He writes be strong and courageous. He hits the delete key, erasing sadness and despair. He quickly types hope and joy. Our names might night be seen in the printed Bible, but they are written in His book. He writes and edits our story, masterfully.
Edits are mistakes that need correcting or deleting in order to make the piece ready for public presentation.
Edits are cutting and rearranging of pieces of the whole to bring it to perfection. I know as a writer that I create a lot of mistakes, every day, in my blog. I have an editor that reads my story and makes the necessary perfecting changes. I wish that she could do it before I publicly post but, time often does not allow. (It is not like my current editor is a paid position. She does if for free, as she is my Mom.)
An editor also alters, adapts, or refines, a work, especially, to bring about conformity to a standard or to suit a particular purpose.
The Lord does all these things in our lives. He deletes the dross in our lives to prepare us for his calling, to make us complete and to perfect us, His bride. He refines us and aligns us to reflect His image. He edits the choices we have made that were not aligned with His purpose to love us back to Him and the path of His perfect plan.
I encourage you to trust the Author and Editor of your life. He has written your perfect story. He is writing and perfecting your chronicles. He will continue write your masterpiece. Allow Him to make the necessary edits in your life to align you with the great story that He already has written for you.
Kris and I have known each other for thirty years. (Am I even that old?) Today, we celebrate our twenty-eighth anniversary. I am thankful. I am thankful for a husband who loves me, and I am thankful for a marriage that has endured. I am guilty of taking are marriage for granted. I am guilty of taking Kris for granted. On the day that we married, we walked down the aisle, out of the church and had a private moment in the lobby. Our first words to each other after our nuptials were, “This is forever.” As married folk know, forever is a long time. Newlyweds, newly engaged and about to be marrieds, forever is a long time. We also made a declaration that divorce was not in our vocabulary. We both have excelled, and we both have failed. We have fought hard and not fought hard enough for our marriage. Praise God together we have endured. Love endured. God is love and love is the enduring glue that holds our marriage together.
This week, I was reminded to REALLY appreciate our union. I have three sisters who are hurting. One sister celebrated her anniversary with her husband who has dementia and is rapidly declining. She was so sad because she said she felt like she was celebrating alone. Another sister was struggling in her singleness after her marriage of over twenty years ended. Finally, a dear sweet sister had been battling for years to save her marriage and she sadly signed divorce papers just yesterday. My heart was and is breaking for each of my friends. I became sad because as they endured their individual pains, each of their situations made me realize how very blessed I was to be celebrating another anniversary.
Married folk, newlyweds, about-to-be-marrieds, newly engaged and looking to get marrieds, marriage is precious. It is not to be taken for granted. Marriage is forever. Treasure it. This week I was painfully remind to appreciate, love, and respect my husband, all the more. I love you, Kris Phillips! I am so very thankful for you, your enduring spirit, and our marriage. THIS IS FOREVER.
I enCOURAGE you, married folk, newlyweds, about-to-be-marrieds, newly engaged and looking-to-get-marrieds… Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Hold each other up. Put up with each other. Endure. Love is patient. Love is kind. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Do everything in love. (Ephesians 4:2, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Romans 12:10, 1 Corinthians 13:7, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 Corinthians 16:14)
P.S. Please pray for my sisters in Christ who are hurting. Earlier, I failed to mention the sweet Mom of a friend who buried her husband of 44 years this week. Pray for them, too, please? Know that I will be praying for your marriage. I ask that you pray for ours in that it will be all God intended.
“But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him IF you seek Him with ALL your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NKJV)
Oddly enough, I had nothing today in the way of encouragement. Nothing laid out before me. Nothing planned in advance. I read through a few short books of the Bible to see if there was a treasure hidden that I could share. I heard…seek Me. I was like I am Lord. Then I heard it again, the soft whisper of the Lord against my neck. “Seek me.” I sought Him by typing into my Bible search ap…Seek the Lord… This is what I found.
Seek the Lord. What does that really mean?
Seek the Lord. Require. Desire. Search Him out. Find His face
Seek Him with all you heart and soul. Resort to the Lord. Go to the Lord. Frequent the Lord. Beat a path to the Lord. Tread a way to the lord Trample out a trail to the Lord Track Him down. Ask for the Lord Inquire of the Lord Study the Lord, repeatedly. Follow the Lord Search Him out Seek the Lord.
This is not a one and done kind of thing. This is not a once a week visit to church. This is a continuing relationship. It is a relationship of running hard after Him. Seek Him you will find Him.
“Seek the LORD and His strength. Seek His face evermore!” (1 Chronicles 16:10-11 NKJV)
Seek the LORD, set your heart and your soul. (1 Chronicles 22:19 NKJV) Seek the LORD in going and praying (Zechariah 8:21 NKJV) Seek the Lord in sickness. (2 Chronicles 16:12 NKJV) Seek the LORD when you are afraid. (2 Chronicles 20:3-4 NKJV) Seek the Lord in lack. (Psalm 34:10 NKJV) Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth. (Zephaniah 2:3 NKJV) Seek the LORD in rejoicing. (Psalm 105:3 NKJV) Seek the Lord in weeping (Jeremiah 50:4 NKJV) Seek the LORD to understand. (Proverbs 28:5 NKJV) Seek the LORD while He may be found. (Isaiah 55:6 NKJV) Seek the LORD and live (Amos 5:6 NKJV)
“The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.” (Psalm 14:2 NKJV)
Woe to those who do not seek the LORD! (Isaiah 31:1 NKJV)
“Seek the LORD and His strength. Seek His face evermore!” (Psalm 105:4 NKJV)
I enCOURAGE you to seek the Lord. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV) Seek Him continually and in all things. He will give you everything you need. Seek Him, first and always.
“Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!”” (Psalm 40:16 NKJV)
Complete in Him 