Category: Uncategorized

By Tammy Phillips
December 25, 2024

Cesar Augustus, the first Emperor of the Roman Empire, reigned during a really dark and evil time in Israel. The darkness was a lot like our present-day circumstances. Cesar was a dude who thought he knew it all. He sent out an Executive Order; big brother wanted to know who and where you were! He wanted money! And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. Everybody went to be taxed, EVERYONE o to his own city, even nine-month pregnant Mary!

Joe went up to Judea, not to New York City, but to David’s City, Bethlehem… from Galilee from his hometown, Nazareth. He was a descendant of King David, you know. He had to drag Mary along with him a top some animal. The ride alone would have been so hard. She was about to pop because she was so pregnant. It wasn’t long after they arrived that she told Joe: “IT’S TME!” It was probably the 80-100-mile hike, the 4-7 day walk, that put her into labor. You know that girl had to be worn out. Joe forgot to make reservations at the Holiday Inn-Bethlehem. Everything was sold out. There was a big crowd in Bethlehem to be taxed. You know how crazy the post office is on tax-day. Bethlehem was buzzing just like that. “No Vacancy” signs were everywhere. There was NO ROOM FOR THEM. King of all Kings was going to be born and no room at the Ritz Bethlehem awaited him.

Mary had sweet baby Jesus in the only place they could find…a cave in the ‘hood. They didn’t have barns, fyi. (Light brought into darkness. God Almighty laid aside His Glory and appeared on the scene as a baby.) She had her first son, her first child, away from home. She probably left his onesies in Nazareth, so she wrapped him up like a peanut with what she had. She swaddled him and laid him in a manger, hewn out of the rock. You know, the things that farm animals ate out of. He came to the earth just like he left the earth, all wrapped up and lying on a stone.

Out in the county there were some shepherds minding their business. They were sleeping out in the field taking care of their animals, so no harm would come to them. Out of the darkness, “kabam-shazam,” out of nowhere, a HUGE angel appeared. He had to be at least 20 feet tall. The mega angel lit up that whole field like sunrise over the ocean. It nearly scared the farmers to death. They were shaking in their boots. The angel roared, “DON’T BE AFRAID!” Look! Listen! I am bringing you GOOD NEWS!!! You have hit the lottery. It is going to make you so HAPPY. It’s good news for everybody. It is the BEST NEWS. Today. T-O-D-A-Y! In Bethlehem…Are you ready for it? Our Savior has been born, the Savior of the World. He is here! Christ the Lord is here! Our Savior, our deliverer…from Greek word “sozo” which means to save, keep safe, and sound, to rescue from danger, to save from perishing from disease, to make well, heal, restore, doctor/healer when you need him, restorer to health from the oppressor (you know the one who tries to harm and hurt you, the one who tried to keep you beat down).

Feel like you’re missing something?  The Savior will complete you. 

Anxious? He says don’t worry! 

Sick? God has no big problems! 

Need something?  He is more than enough! 

Lonely? He will never leave you nor forsake you? 

Need a constant in your life?  He will never change.  He always has been, always is and always will be. 

Want to do well? He has the keys to the kingdom. His name is I AM, I WAS, I always will be. HIS NAME IS CHRIST, the anointed. He is smeared all over, bathed-in, like suntan oil at the beach…it was/is all over Him to be who He was and is supposed to be. He was/is furnished with all necessary powers to perform his position with duties as assigned by God.

The LORD, the man of the hour, has power for decision making. He gets things done. He is supreme. He has it all under control. He is our Savior for such a time as this. He is our SOZO now. LIFE IS NOW. He is not a fire policy. He is the Son of God, and he is here.

A child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (the Chief of Completeness) – Isaiah 9:6

Get it? I AM is here!

This is the sign. You can find the Savior of the World wrapped in swaddling clothes and he is lying in a M-A-N-G-E-R. (A manger? The king is in a manger?) Don’t miss the sign boys.

The heavens could not stand it anymore- the good news!

Bam! The angel’s back-up singers the Heavenly Host (Heard of them? They were a popular group with God) I mean I am talking a platoon, a troop of hosts showed up and put on a show. They were praising God and rocking the stage saying:

“Glory to God in the highest. Peace on Earth. Good will to men!” You could probably hear them all the way in Nazareth. After the field concert (And Luke Bryan thought this was an original idea?), the Angel of the Lord & the Heavenly Host – poof- they jetted back to heaven in an instant.

The Sheps chatted and thought it might be a good idea to let the flock hang out and for them to head on to Bethlehem. They wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I mean the Lord had dropped a concert in the middle of the field in the middle of the night to let them know the good news. Talk about virtual reality. The Sheps sped to Bethlehem.

Lo and behold!  Surprise!  Surprise! Surprise!  Can you believe it?  They found Mary, Joe and sweet lil’ baby Jesus lying in the manger.  After they saw BABY JESUS, they went and told everybody about it!   Anyone that would listen, heard the story.  They didn’t go to bed for days.  Everybody they told wandered in AMAZEMENT.  You can see them just shaking their heads.

Mary was just blown away. She kept quiet and to herself. She thought…I birthed the King? He’s lying in a manger. The Savior of the world? After the long journey, the labor, it was too much. She just kept all this to herself and let her thoughts just circle in her tiny little brain. It was just too much to process.

The “Sheps”  They just kept on partying. Glorifying, praising, singing to the top of their lungs to God.  What a story, a Glory Story of the Savior of the World!

Merry Christmas!

by Tammy Phillips
December 24, 2024

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa 9:6 NKJV)

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Mat 1:21 NKJV emphasis)

If I could give you any gift for Christmas, I would give you Jesus. I cannot because Father God already has. I can share Him with you. I can pray and hope that you will receive the gift of Jesus, the gift of salvation. Did you know his very name means salvation. When you do not know how to pray because the situation seems way to big, all you have to say is the most powerful word on the planet, “Jesus.” When you speak, Jesus, name above every name, you speak, Salvation. Isn’t that what we are crying when you call out in prayer? Help, Lord. Save me from….sickness, lack, destruction, fear…. He is Salvation and the Answer to everything, every prayer ever prayed, and every question ever asked.

Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. (James 5:13 AMP)

Is anyone among you going through something bad?
Is anyone among you experiencing something evil?
Is anyone among you in a noisy situation?
Is anyone among you troubled?
Is anyone among you under a mind attack?
Is anyone among you enduring a hardship?
Is anyone among you braving whatever?

All of the above questions define the word suffering in James 5:13. Suffering? Pray.

To whom do we offer our prayers? We offer our prayers to the one who is the Answer to everything, who is All things to all people. We pray to God in the name of Jesus. Who is the Lord? He is the ANSWER. In the Bible we see Him in every book…

• Genesis – Creator of all, promised Redeemer, Almighty, our God who Sees all things, our Provider. 
  Need an answer. He is the Creator. Lacking? He is the provider. Feel invisible? He sees you.
• Exodus – our Passover Lamb, Strength, Song and Salvation, our Greater than, our Great Physician and Healer.
  Weak? He is our Strength. Sick? He is our Healer. Broken? He will mend you.
• Leviticus – High Priest
• Numbers – Water in the desert
• Deuteronomy –the Curse for us.
• Joshua – The Captain of Our Salvation
• Judges – Lawgiver and Deliverer
• Ruth – Kinsman-Redeemer
• 1 Samuel – All in one, Prophet of the Lord
• 2 Samuel – King of grace & love, Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer
• 1 Kings – The Reigning king
• 2 Kings – Powerful prophet
• 1 Chronicles – Son of David that is coming to rule
• 2 Chronicles –King who reigns eternally
• Ezra – Faithful Scribe
• Nehemiah – Restorer and Rebuilder of broken down
• Esther – Protector of his people
• Job – Dayspring on High and Mediator between God and man
• Psalms – our Song, our Salvation, our Goodness, our Guide, our Keeper, our Dwelling Place, our Everlasting, and the Healer of the Broken hearted.
  Need a song? He is it. Need a guide? He will lead. Need a permanent residence? It is Him.
• Proverbs – Our Wisdom, our Fountain of Life, our Life.
  Need wisdom, life? You have come to the right place.
• Ecclesiastes – Our meaning for life
  Need purpose? He is the meaning.
• Song of Solomon – Lover and Bridegroom
  Nobody loves you like Jesus!
• Isaiah – our Suffering Servant, our Strength, our Defense, Counsellor, everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace and Chief of Completeness, Immanuel: God with us today, tomorrow, and always. 
  WHATEVER you need, you can find it in Jesus!
• Jeremiah – the weeping Messiah and our Righteousness
• Lamentations – our Wrath Taker
• Ezekiel – Son of Man, our Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is There
  Think you are alone? Never.  God is always with us.
  Wondering where He is?  He is there, always.
• Daniel – The Man in the fire with us.
  In the middle of a fire? He is there.
• Hosea – Bridegroom and Faithful husband.
  Need a man? Jesus is your first answer.
• Joel – He is Spirit to His people
• Amos – Burden Bearer and  Deliverer of justice
• Obadiah – Mighty Savior
• Jonah – Forgiving God
• Micah –Caster of  our sin into the sea.
  Need to forget your past? Ask Him.
• Nahum – our jealous, good God slow to anger, Avenger of the elect
• Habakkuk – Crusher of injustice
• Zephaniah – the Mighty Warrior who saves.
  Need someone to fight for you? “It is the LORD who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (AMP)
• Haggai – Restorer
• Zechariah – our Pierced Savior
• Malachi – Sun of righteousness who brings healing
• Matthew – Savior who is King
• Mark – Servant King and  miracle Worker
• Luke – Savior who is Deliverer
• John – our Word, our Savior, our God in the flesh, Comforter, Standby
  our Way, our Truth, our Life, our Light and our Living Water
  Don’t know what to say? He is the Word. Lost? He is the Way. Confused? He is truth.  Thirsty? He is refreshment.
• Acts – Ascended Savior,  Life and Breath
  Existing? He is Life.  Lifeless? He is breath.
• Romans – our Justification and the Righteousness of God
• 1 Corinthians – Love
  Empty? He is Love
• 2 Corinthians – our Redeemer
  He became poor that you may become rich.
• Galatians – He is our very life.
  Facing death for eternity?  He is Life , here and now.
• Ephesians – Unity of the church
• Philippians –The joy of our life
  Sad? Depressed? Downhearted? Discouraged? He is JOY unspeakable.
• Colossians – Completer
  Unfinished? Imperfect? Undone? He completes you.
• 1 Thessalonians – our Comfort in the last days
• 2 Thessalonians – our Soon and Coming King
• 1 Timothy – Savior of the worst sinners
• 2 Timothy – Deliverer, Preserver, Giver of power, love, and a sound mind, but not fear
• Titus – Blessed Hope
• Philemon – our Mediator
• Hebrews – our High Priest and our Helper
• James – the Lord of glory, our Grace giver and Lifter Up
• 1 Peter – our Hope in times of suffering
• 2 Peter –  our Guard and Shepherd
• 1 John – He is Love.
• 2 John – He is faithful, longsuffering not willing any to perish
• 3 John – our Good God doing no evil
• Jude – Protector from the stumbling
• Revelation – Our Groom, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning, and the End, and He is coming again and the One who makes all things new.

I boldly declare Isaiah 12:2, “Behold, God is my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, For the LORD GOD is my strength and song; Yes, He has become my salvation.” He is my Salvation which means health, help, welfare, healing, wholeness, and completeness. And because He is my Salvation, I can declare “the LORD [is] on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? (Psa 118:6 KJV) and “the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2Pe 3:9 KJV) It is why he was born, died and rose again.

I enCOURAGE you to carefully consider my case for Jesus. He is THE ANSWER. If you do not know him, he is all that I have written about and MORE. He will see you through anything and everything. He was born to save you and me!

To loosely quote my pastor, Freddy T: “There was no room for them in the inn, when baby Jesus was born. No suite at the Ritz was awaiting the King of Kings. Can you make ROOM for him in your heart, today?” The Answer and Savior is waiting on you to invite him in. Just ask Him…

Everybody sins.

         Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Sin=Death

         Romans 6:23a: For the wages of sin is death.

God Loves You!

Romans 5:8: But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Salvation is a free gift from God to you!

         Romans 6:23b: …but the gift of God is eternal lite through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Like any gift, you have to take it! ASK…

Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

( Yes! This is the same blog from last week, but it is a message that warrants repeating to the world! It IS the good news!)

 

by Tammy Phillips
December 16, 2024

Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. (James 5:13 AMP)

Is anyone among you going through something bad?
Is anyone among you experiencing something evil?
Is anyone among you in a noisy situation?
Is anyone among you troubled?
Is anyone among you under a mind attack?
Is anyone among you enduring a hardship?
Is anyone among you braving whatever?

All of the above questions define the word suffering in James 5:13. The simple answer to going through anything is to PRAY.

To whom do we offer our prayers? We offer our prayers to the one who is the Answer to everything, who is All things to all people. We pray to God in the name of Jesus. Who is the Lord? He is the ANSWER. In the Bible we see Him in every book…

• Genesis – Creator of all, promised Redeemer, Almighty, our God who Sees all things, our Provider. 
  Need an answer. He is the Creator. Lacking? He is the provider. Feel invisible? He sees you.
• Exodus – our Passover Lamb, Strength, Song and Salvation, our Greater than, our Great Physician and Healer.
  Weak? He is our Strength. Sick? He is our Healer. Broken? He will mend you.
• Leviticus – High Priest
• Numbers – Water in the desert
• Deuteronomy –the Curse for us.
• Joshua – The Captain of Our Salvation
• Judges – Lawgiver and Deliverer
• Ruth – Kinsman-Redeemer
• 1 Samuel – All in one, Prophet of the Lord
• 2 Samuel – King of grace & love, Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer
• 1 Kings – The Reigning king
• 2 Kings – Powerful prophet
• 1 Chronicles – Son of David that is coming to rule
• 2 Chronicles –King who reigns eternally
• Ezra – Faithful Scribe
• Nehemiah – Restorer and Rebuilder of broken down
• Esther – Protector of his people
• Job – Dayspring on High and Mediator between God and man
• Psalms – our Song, our Salvation, our Goodness, our Guide, our Keeper, our Dwelling Place, our Everlasting, and the Healer of the Broken hearted.
  Need a song? He is it. Need a guide? He will lead. Need a permanent residence? It is Him.
• Proverbs – Our Wisdom, our Fountain of Life, our Life.
  Need wisdom, life? You have come to the right place.
• Ecclesiastes – Our meaning for life
  Need purpose? He is the meaning.
• Song of Solomon – Lover and Bridegroom
  Nobody loves you like Jesus!
• Isaiah – our Suffering Servant, our Strength, our Defense, Counsellor, everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace and Chief of Completeness, Immanuel: God with us today, tomorrow and always. 
  WHATEVER you need, you can find it in Jesus!
• Jeremiah – the weeping Messiah and our Righteousness
• Lamentations – our Wrath Taker
• Ezekiel – Son of Man, our Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is There
  Think you are alone? Never.  God is always with us.
  Wondering where He is?  He is there, always.
• Daniel – The Man in the fire with us.
  In the middle of a fire? He is there.
• Hosea – Bridegroom and Faithful husband.
  Need a man? Jesus is your first answer.
• Joel – He is Spirit to His people
• Amos – Burden Bearer and  Deliverer of justice
• Obadiah – Mighty Savior
• Jonah – Forgiving God
• Micah –Caster of  our sin into the sea.
  Need to forget your past? Ask Him.
• Nahum – our jealous, good God slow to anger, Avenger of the elect.
• Habakkuk – Crusher of injustice
• Zephaniah – the Mighty Warrior who saves.
  Need someone to fight for you? “It is the LORD who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (AMP)
• Haggai – Restorer
• Zechariah – our pierce Savior
• Malachi – Sun of righteousness who brings healing
• Matthew – Savior who is King
• Mark – Servant King and  miracle Worker
• Luke – Savior who is Deliverer
• John – our Word, our Savior, our God in the flesh, Comforter, Standby, our Way, our Truth, our Life, our Light and our Living Water
  Don’t know what to say? He is the Word. Lost? He is the Way. Confused? He is truth. Thirsty? He is refreshment.
• Acts – Ascended Savior,  Life and Breath
  Existing? He is Life.  Lifeless? He is breath.
• Romans – our Justification and the Righteousness of God
• 1 Corinthians – Love
  Empty? He is Love
• 2 Corinthians – our Redeemer
  He became poor that you may become rich.
• Galatians – He is our very life.
  Facing death for eternity?  He is Life , here and now.
• Ephesians – Unity of the church
• Philippians –The joy of our life
  Sad? Depressed? Downhearted? Discouraged? He is JOY unspeakable.
• Colossians – Completer
  Unfinished? Imperfect? Undone? He completes you.
• 1 Thessalonians – our Comfort in the last days
• 2 Thessalonians – our Soon and Coming King
• 1 Timothy – Savior of the worst sinners
• 2 Timothy – Deliverer, Preserver, Giver of  power, love and a sound mind, but not fear
• Titus – Blessed Hope
• Philemon – our Mediator
• Hebrews – our High Priest and our Helper
• James – the Lord of glory, our Grace giver and Lifter Up
• 1 Peter – our Hope in times of suffering
• 2 Peter –  our Guard and Shepherd
• 1 John – He is Love.
• 2 John – He is faithful, longsuffering not willing any to perish
• 3 John – our Good God doing no evil
• Jude – Protector from the stumbling
• Revelation – Our Groom, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, and He is coming again and the One who makes all things new.

I boldly declare Isaiah 12:2, “Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, For the LORD GOD is my strength and song; Yes, He has become my salvation.”   He is my Salvation which means health, help, welfare, healing, wholeness, and completeness.  And because He is my Salvation, I can declare “the LORD [is] on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? (Psa 118:6 KJV) and “the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2Pe 3:9 KJV)

I enCOURAGE you to carefully consider my case for Jesus. He is THE ANSWER. If you do not know him, he is all that I have written about and MORE. He will see you through anything. He was born to save you.

To loosely quote my pastor, Freddy T:  “There was no room for them in the inn, when baby Jesus was born.  No suite at the Ritz was awaiting the King of Kings.  Can make ROOM for him in your heart, today?” The Answer and Savior is waiting on you to invite him in. Just ask Him…

Everybody sins.

Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;

Sin= Death

         Romans 6:23a: For the wages of sin is death;

God Loves You! He gave you his ONLY son!

         Romans 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet   sinners, Christ died for us.

Salvation is a free gift from god to you!

         Romans 6:23b: …but the gift of God is eternal lite through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Like any gift, you have to take it! ASK…

            Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

by Tammy Phillips
December 1, 2024

“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

It is on the pathway of life that our lives are changed, and we can affect the lives of others.

Recently, I attended two different events, a fundraiser, and a wedding. It was at these events I became aware of the power of the encounter. It is in these moments in time that can and do change the trajectory of our lives.

At the fundraiser, a speaker was delivering his passionate plea as to why we should support his cause. While he spoke, I scanned the room to see if others were as moved as I. My sweep came to an abrupt halt upon one woman’s face. She looked like a sulking bullfrog who appeared to be mad at the impassioned presenter. Perhaps, secretly she was. I do not know. I do know that her face made me sit up straight chair and paint on a broad smile. I did not want anyone to feel the same way she had made me feel that morning. She changed my day and did not even know it. We could all do the same with a smile or a kind gesture, right?

At the wedding, I ran into an old friend, Avery Dale. We sat a small table at the reception chit chatting. We were talking about her late husband, Fred, who had been a high school friend of my husbands. In a light bulb moment, I realized the power of the encounter. I shared with her that If it had not been for Fred, we would not even BE sitting at this table at this wedding.

Fourteen years earlier, we had moved to Memphis. My husband was there working before our move and ran into Fred at a restaurant parking lot. From a brief conversation they had, our lives changed forever. Fred introduced my husband to the school his son was attending at the time. Consequently, it would become the same school that my son, Brayden, would finish his high school career. It was at that school where he would become friends with Fred’s son, Alex and played on the same football team. It was the place where he would meet his lifelong, best friends including Nick, whose wedding we were attending. (My son was his best man and Alex a groomsman.) It was at Memphis University School where Brayden’s drive led him to a high school internship for his future employer and ultimately, it determined his career path. It was also in Memphis through mutual work friends that Brayden would meet his wife. If it had not been for the brief encounter with Fred and his kindness, none of the above would have been possible, nor would we have been sitting at the wedding party chatting.

The power of the encounter with Jesus has changed my life. Most significantly, it has moved from a place of fear, guilt, and shame to a life of faith, excellence, and freedom. Jesus changed the life of many he came in contact with:

In John 4: A Samaritan woman who had five husbands and was living with a man, met Jesus at Jacob’s well. She was living in sexual sin and was saved because Jesus took the time to detour through her city. He told her of all the things she had done in her life and offered her a change, a drink of the living water, Himself. Also, he broke down the race barrier because Jews and Samarians did not chat.

In Mark 10: Blind Bartimaeus called out to Jesus. Jesus stopped on his journey and asked Bart what he wanted. Bart asked to receive his sight. Jesus answered, “Your faith has made you well, go.” Bart went from a beggar on the side of the road to a follower of Jesus.

In Luke 19: Zacchaeus, a short, rich, hated, corrupt tax collector was called out of a tree to meet Jesus. After their encounter, they went to Zach’s house had a little dinner. Zacchaeus repented of his sins and promised restoration of anything he had stolen. Jesus promised him salvation.

In Acts 9: Saul was a zealous Pharisee who persecuted and murdered Christians. He was on his way to threaten and kill more disciples when a light suddenly blinded him. Jesus appeared to him, chose him, and transformed his heart. Saul became one of the most influential apostles to spread the gospel through the world.

Furthermore, in John 14:12-14, Jesus empowered us who believe to do GREATER WORKS than he did by asking in His name. Peter who denied Jesus three times and who cut off a soldiers ear, received forgiveness, power and authority from Jesus to do the greater things. In Acts 3, in Jesus name Peter commanded the lame man at the Gate Beautiful to rise up and walk. He did. Talk about the power of the encounter!

We are the hands and feet of Jesus on the earth at this time. We are to go where he says go and do what he says do. We are His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). We have been given the power of the encounter to change the course of people’s day, week, year, and life. Follower of Christ…

I enCOURAGE you to use the power of your face, the authority of your words, and your actions to change other’s days and point them to Jesus. You have been given superpowers to be a rescue hero in His kingdom. We can be day makers and life changers in Him. Are you using the power of the encounter to change others lives?

by Tammy Phillips
November 28, 2024

GIVE THANKS in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 CSB)

O give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the people. (Psalm 105:1 AMP)

Yada, Yada, Yada!
Confess! Profess! Cast! Throw down!
Give thanks!

The Hebrew word for give thanks is yada which literally means to hold out your hand and throw!

Today is Thanksgiving Day! It is a day to GIVE THANKS.

I encourage you to join me…

Throw down your thanks! Give it to God!

Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name. (Psalm 100:4 AMP)

Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!) Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever! (Psalm 106:1 AMP)

by Tammy Phillips
June 2, 2021
(Repeat and gently tweaked from October 6, 2020)

That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3 NKJV)

Looking into the depths of Psalm 1:1-3, Jeremiah 17:7-8, and Ezekiel 47:12, this is what it means to me, when God calls us  “trees of righteousness:”

Blessed (happy, and fortunate)
is the man who trusts (confident, secure, careless, fearless, runs for refuge)
in the LORD.

Blessed (right, upright, to be straight, level, to be successful, prosper) 
is the man whose hope (confidence, security, refuge)
is the LORD.

Blessed is the man who walks not in 
the counsel (advice, or plans and purposes)
of the ungodly (wicked, having an unrighteous cause, to be or do wrong, disturb, make trouble, make noise, tumultuous, cause terror, who depart from God)  
nor stands (endures, continues, abides)
in the path (way, road or direction)
of sinners (wander, miss, go the wrong way, miss the goal, miss the mark
nor sits in the seat of the scornful (mouths out, mock by imitating, acts a fool)
We should not be walking in the same direction! 

But his delight (and pleasure) is in the law (instruction, direction, teaching) of the LORD
And in His law he meditates (roars, moans, growls, utters, mutters, speaks)
day and night. Gods words are life to us. We should be roaring them day and night. His words and His Word, Jesus, are what keep us upright and walking in the right direction.

He shall be like a tree, (apple, almond, cedars of Lebanon, sweetgum, black mulberry, date palm, palm, sycamore fig, olive, Holly oak, Shittah or acacia, poplar…It takes all kinds of trees! It takes all kinds of trees to meet all kinds of needs.)
planted (God plants us and roots us in Love exactly where He needs us.)
along the bank of the river, on this side and that, by the rivers of water,
(God is living water. He is the fountain of living watering a constant life-source. “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb”. -Revelation 22:1 NKJV)
which spreads out its roots by the river. (Firmly fixed, our roots grow, deeper, wider, and longer, in love, in God and in His word, creating a strong, immovable tree. “The root of the righteous shall not be moved.” Proverbs 12:3)

And he will not see (look at, pay attention nor fear)
when heat comes (Heat will come.  Things that cause us to boil…temptation, hurt and offense… will come.)
BUT his leaf will be green (As trees of righteousness, we flourish in Him.  We are rooted into the all sufficient river of living water from the word of God.  The water keeps our leaves green, alive, and thriving. This is why we have to stay planted in the word.)
His leaf  shall not wither. (fade, wilt, fall away, drop down, fail, faint, lose one’s strength, be foolish, disgrace)
The tree will not cease from yielding fruit.  Its fruit will not fail and will bring forth its fruit in its season.    (“The root of the righteous shall yield fruit.”- Proverbs 12: 12.  The roots are plugged into nutrient rich, life giving, fruit yielding water source.  At the right time, God’s time,  we will bear fruit.)
The leaf will be for medicine.  (Our leaves, our experiences, our successes, and failures, shared can bring healing through Christ and bring wholeness to the broken.)
The tree will not be anxious (fear, take care, thought, be concerned nor sorrowful)
in the year of drought (when the rain is scarce and supply has been clipped off or withheld)
And whatever he does shall prosper. (to go over, go through, push forward, break out, break through, advance, succeed, to flow, be poured out, to finish well)

I enCOURAGE you to trust in the Lord always. Believe His word. Believe what He says about you. Meditate on His word day and night, so that You know what He says. Walk in righteousness. Walk in Him. When He says that you are a “tree of righteousness,” believe Him and you will finish well!

Revelation for the day:
“One tree in the garden delivered death and sin. One tree in the garden delivered life and righteousness. Which one do you choose?” -Tammy Phillips

(This is one of Complete in Him’s most read post’s. This is a REPOST from October 6, 2020 and June 2, 2021. Oddly enough, I knew I was to share again today AND I just started reading through Psalm again. Join me.)

by Tammy Phillips
November 11, 2024

“LORD, make me aware of my end and the number of my days, so that I will know how short-lived I am. In fact, you have made my days just inches long, and my life span is as nothing to you.  (Psa 39:4-5 CSB)

I have lived on earth 59 years, 713 months, 3102 weeks, 21,715 days, 521,142 hours, 31,268,520 minutes, and a whole lot of seconds. I was recently reminded of how very important every day is. It is a gift of God not to be wasted. You cannot relive the last second.

“We often count the years of our lives, but not the days. Why? Because when we think we have years ahead of us, we’re tempted to waste the days. But the truth is, everyday counts.”- Christine Caine

The word of God says in James 4:13-15, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.’ ¹⁴ Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring — what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

It has been 1,826 days since my friend, Stephanie Tharpe who I affectionately call Sparkle, tragically lost her son, Brandon. It has been 1,826 days since Holy Spirit instructed me to keep the word of God before her daily for one year to encourage her. It has also been 1826 days since I told God, “I hate going to funerals because I never know what to say to a person who has lost a loved one. How can I encourage Sparkle? You chose the wrong person.” Honestly, I do not know why I agreed to His assignment except that it was what He called me to do. I was even ever so bold as to say to God, “If you do not give me something to say, I am not saying anything!”

I became very aware of my days. Every day, I awoke to the assignment to encourage my friend. It seemed and impossible task for me. Day by day, I wrote to her. I give God all the glory. I can do all things through Him and nothing without Him. As my assignment continued, more and more people I knew lost children too soon. To date I know of at least twenty-five families whose children’s days were cut short. When CoVid-19 hit, I asked Sparkle if I could share her encouragements in a blog to reach and encourage others. She agreed. I wrote daily for over two years. I would like to give God the glory. I would also like to honor Brandon, Stephanie (and Leonard) and every family who I know that lost a family member early in their life. Sadly, Brandon’s passing birthed the writer in me and as a consequence of his days ending too soon, the word of God has reached over sixty thousand people in one hundred and five nations across four continents. TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

I wish I could say I have lived every day to the fullest, bringing glory to God.  I would be lying.  Life happened.  Like you, I have been on the rollercoaster of a journey with its many ups and downs.  I began to look at my life again in the context of years, instead of the precious seconds we are given to breathe in and out. Thankfully, on Brandon’s memorial day,  Holy Spirit brought this word to mind:

Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts (Psalm 90:12, CSB).

I enCOURAGE you to make today count. Do not waste one more minute. Do not live in the prison of yesterday’s guilts, sins, and regrets. Step into the freedom of this second that Jesus and our veterans paid for. We remember them on this day, too. Do not waste a day, nor a moment. Breathe in the salvation of today in Jesus. Experience the day. Make a difference. Live life to the fullest because we are not guaranteed the next second. Choose today. Choose life! Choose love. You do not know what tomorrow will bring nor what your life will be.

I would also like to encourage you with this story of another family friend who lost her daughter too soon! (Click the link below to hear the redemption story)

https://search.app/C8BdRXV1NM59anMA6

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Your way, Yahweh!

Be ANXIOUS for NOTHING,but in everything byPRAYER and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God; and the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts ❤️💙❤️💙and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV)

The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. (Psalms 33:11-12 NKJV)

Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.

21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.

22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what [is] in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.

Daniel 2:20-22 (NKJV) 20

Your way, Yahweh!

by Tammy Phillips
November 4, 2004

The goodness of God endures continually. (Psa 52:1 NKJV)

Many times in life I have declared, “I do not understand.” After seeking God for understanding about a death in our family, His simple answer to me was, “I count the number of the stars; I call them all by name. Great [is] the Lord, and mighty in power; My understanding [is] infinite.” (adapted from Psa 147:4-5 NKJV) He taught me that I did not have to understand because He did. You might say that is no answer. It is my answer, and it brings me peace every time I cannot understand.

I do not understand the miracle of birth. I do not understand God’s goodness, nor His timing. I do not understand a lot. I do not understand why my daughter-in-law had to ride the roller coaster of labor for twenty four hours to deliver our granddaughter. I do not understand why she had to push for four hours and some only four times.

I will tell you what I do know. God is good beyond our understanding!

After our granddaughter, Harper, was born, we apprehensively watched her be rolled down a long hall to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit through a sliver of a window in a door in the family WAITING room. My first imaginations were fear! ”We are not losing another baby in our family! Did her journey through the birth canal cause permanent damage like my stepsister’s brother experienced? Is Caroline, ok? Did Harper swallow meconium like my oldest son?” These thoughts did not last as long as it took for you to read them. I went into battle mode, even though the pressure was intense, and I could hardly breath. I stood in faith, prayed, and reminded God of who He was, what He could do and His promises. I declared, “Even if…you are faithful!”

Kris stood watch, never leaving the window, looking down the lengthy hall to the NICU. I prayed. Then hope arose when we saw Parker come and go down the extended corridor to see Harper. We had no idea what was going on. Then the midwife came out and asked the Phillips family to join her in a private room. I am sure we all turned white. You know what that normally means. Someone exclaimed, “All of us are with the Phillips family!” She sat and explained that Harper had swallowed meconium and was having a hard time catching her breath. They were going to monitor her about an hour and then take her back to Caroline’s room. She was OK! Praise God. We stayed at the hospital a couple of hours in order to briefly meet her. She was tiny and seemed to still be struggling a little to breathe. She HAD been on a tough journey. She, her Mom and Dad, had passed the warrior test of endurance. Praise God.

We arrived home about 4:30 AM. We had been up about forty-eight hours. We needed rest and sleep as did they. We would visit later in the day. However, at 9:24 AM, we received a text from Parker, our son. It read, “They had to take her back to monitor. She cannot register a temperature. Her oxygen and respiration levels have dipped. She threw up green stuff. Just pray.”

Again, fear came knocking, but faith came blocking. The wind was knocked out of me. The enemy had thrown a gut punch, but Holy Spirit came over me and faith arose. I called Parker and Caroline and we prayed. My oldest son had experienced some of the same things at birth. I had given him over to God and we were doing the same with Harper, knowing God would take care of her.

After praying, Kris and I prepared to return to the hospital, but first, I gathered some healing scriptures and texted them to the kids to stand on. I sent the text around 11 AM. Afterwards, I just started singing, the Goodness of God:

“I love You, Lord

Until I lay my head

Oh, Your mercy never fails me

All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

And all my life You have been faithful

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

And in darkest night You are close like no other…”

Then Holy Spirit reminded me that I had written on my calendar to start a new devotional on September 20, 2024! It was called, Waking up to the Goodness of God by Susie Larson. I ran to my prayer room and picked up the book. I read:

“Show me the lies I picked up when life let me down…Teach me to walk in Your ways with such consistency and confidence that I’m no longer moved by the storms that once shook me. Hold fast…” AND this word from God was waiting on me, “The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to rescue each time.” (Ps 34:19)

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zep 3:17 NLT)

This was a divine appointment with God in so many ways. Peace overcame me. He calmed my fears and reminded me that He is our Savior. At that exact moment in time, I knew that I knew that I knew Harper was going to be ok. I was in the presence of Peace, our Rescuer, our Deliverer, Goodness! I shared the good news with Kris over a lingering embrace. We waited to hear the confirmation from the kids. We continue to get ready. As we were driving to the hospital to stand with the kids, we received a text from Parker: “She’s been back with us for an hour. Said everything is looking better. Way more alert, actually sucking a paci.”

Oh, the goodness of God! He is faithful and true. His timing is perfect.

When we arrived back at the hospital, we found the new family in room 3033 ! I could only laugh at the goodness of God. When the Lord wakes me at night to pray, it is usually around 3:33 am and He gave me this promise to back up those prayers. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”(Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)

We called. He answered and showed us His salvation. GOD IS GOOD…all the time.

I enCOURAGE you to reflect on the goodness of God.

• The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him
• Nahum 1:7
• Good and upright is the Lord. Psalm 25:8
• The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. Psalm 145:9
• The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. Exodus 34:6
• The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25
• Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

by Tammy Phillips
October 28, 2024

To everything [there is] a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die… (Ecc 3:1-2 NKJV)

My brain stretches to the point of explosion when thinking about the vastness God’s calendar. He established seasons and appointed times in creation for everything! His word says everything has a DUE TIME, a fixed time, a set time, a point in time, hence an appointment time. THINK ABOUT IT! We declare we have busy schedules, but His appointment book is overflowing and eternal. Thankfully, He is an on-time-God. He is seldom in a hurry but never late!

Abram was around 75 years old when God promised he and Sarai that he would be a father of many nations. In Abraham’s 99^th year, the Lord visited him and promised him that the next year he would have a son. Sara, his wife, overheard the conversation and laughed. They had been waiting 25 years! I can hear the Lord laughing back at her when he responded, “Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Gen 18:14 NKJV)

Have you waited 25 years for the Lord to deliver on a promise? I have not waited 25 years, but I did wait a painstaking 25 hours for the birth of our first granddaughter.

What are you waiting for? Do you have a promise of God are your holding onto to get your through?

God’s word is alive, powerful, and mighty. During the last few months before the birth of our first granddaughter, Holy Spirit had relentlessly kept dropping three small words in my spirit, IN DUE TIME, in due time, in due time.” My response was , “I hear your Lord, but WHAT are you trying to teach me?”

On September 19, I discovered why He had been preparing my heart with those three simple words. Our kids went to the hospital around 10 PM that night believing labor had started. They found out they would indeed be staying around midnight! Caroline was already 40% ready! Praise God. The nurse told them Harper should arrive before her shift ended at 7:00 am.

I brought a project to the hospital. I hoped by the time I finished, our granddaughter would be present and accounted for on planet earth. My labor of love was completed around 3 AM, before even the next family member would arrive. Dawn peaked over the horizon and the nurses shift ended, no Harper. Twelve hours passed before Caroline’s Mom arrived. Eight more hours transpired before her Dad appeared and then two more hours evaporated before her sister show up. Yet, Harper still continued to bake away inside Mom.

I cannot imagine how our kids were feeling. There were times I felt crushed by the weight and wait of it all!  BUT GOD… I had a word from the LORD seeded deep in my heart, “IN DUE TIME!” It was a word to stand on.  I breathed in Jesus,  had faith in God and repeated His promises!  “In due time. In due time. In due time. “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me”(  John 14:1, CSB).

All the while, I breathed out the fearful thoughts Satan was bombarding me with on the battlefield in my mind. They were brutal, but God was greater.

Finally, 25 hours later, 11:08 PM, we heard the chimes in the hospital signifying a baby had been born. It was our Harper! God (and her warrior mother) had delivered His promise in due time with just minutes to spare on her actual due date! The promise delivered was so worth the wait. Grandchildren are the crown of the aged! (Pro 17:6 ESV). All Glory to God!

My husband, Kris, so beautifully wrote, “For nearly 25 hours I sat in the hospital waiting room anxiously awaiting the cry of my first granddaughter. Throughout the roller coaster ride, I learned that the miracle of birth isn’t defined by a clock, medical team, nor me, but by God’s hand.”

I learned, “Beloved, Do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day [is] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us….” (2Pe 3:8-9 NKJV)

Those 25 hours seem like a thousand years, but the Lord was not slack and God’s hand delivered in due time.

I enCOURAGE you! “Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.”(Heb 10:23 CSB). God ALWAYS answers in His time. It may not be the answer we wanted, but He always shows up for His appointments.

The story does not end there…stay tuned…