Category: Uncategorized

by Tammy Phillips
May 10, 2021

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This [is] the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness [is] from Me,” Says the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17 NKJV)

A dream may end abruptly.
A superior may pass down unfair judgment and a job may be lost.
A stranger may cause bodily harm.
A friend or family member may be unkind in word or deeds.
A spouse may be unfaithful.
A partner may move to heaven before you.
A parent may pass from cancer or c-19.
A child may unexpectantly be taken.

I could go on and on, BUT my Bible says, “No weapon formed against you will prosper.”

According to Websters 1828 Dictionary, a weapon is “any instrument of offense; anything used or designed to be used in destroying or annoying an enemy.” 

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)

Satan is the liar, the accuser, and the thief.  He has a plan.  He will do anything or use anybody to bring destruction to our lives.  His mission is to steal and kill and destroy.  He will do anything to get us to turn our back on God and blame Him for the accomplishments of the enemy of our soul.  

Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.”  From this word, we learn that the Lord will take Satan’s anything and make it an “all thing” to work together for good to those who love God…

Like Joseph in Genesis 50:20, we can fearlessly and boldly say: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; [but] God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as [it is] this day, to save many people alive.”

It is painful when so called friends, family members and even our enemies slander our characters.  Half-truths hurt!

BUT GOD…

He always has the overcoming plan. His weapons are not faulty and will not fail.  The Lord says in Isaiah, “Every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.”  Words and actions sometimes take longer to heal than an actual blow to the body. We can rest assured that He will heal our brokenness and that the wagging, lying, slanderous tongues will be dealt with.   I love how Isaiah 54 ends.  The Lord declares that the weapons and the words will not succeed, finish well, go over or through.  We are encouraged to remember it is God that created all who made the weapons and spoke the words against us, His children.  This mama would do anything to protect her babies.  How much more will God defend His kids?  It is our inheritance in Him, as His children, that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, nor any tongue.  God is our righteousness alone.  No man, no word, no weapon, no, not anything will prosper against us, His kiddos.  He is our salvation.  We can be confident in Him and know all the plans of the enemy to steal our eternity will fail.

I enCOURAGE you to fear not.  When the enemy raises his hand or mouth against you, remember that his enemies faulty weapons will not finish well. Remember,  WHOSE you are and to WHOM you belong to.   With all faith boldly say, “My righteousness is from the Lord.  My justification is in the Lord.  My inheritance is from my Father, God Almighty.  Back up enemy!  No weapon formed against me will prosper and tongue that rises against me…you will be condemned in Jesus’ name.  AMEN!”  

by Tammy Phillips
May 9, 2021

Let your father and your mother be glad and let her who bore you rejoice. (Proverbs 23:25 NKJV)

How can the greatest pain bring the greatest joy? It does and it is so worth it.

I overheard a mother tell my expectant niece about the excruciating pain of birth.   She described it as attempting to push a bowling ball through a straw.  It looks impossible.  When I was in labor and my doctor decided to let the drugs wear off, I told my sweet nurse that if she tried to comfort me one more time by wiping the sweat from my brow with a cool washcloth that I would find a gun and shoot her.  The pain was indescribable.  Most any reasonable man would deem it impossible for the extra-large human that grows and grows in our womb for nine months to possibly find an exit from our bodies. God in His great design planned for us women to simply break apart, split wide open and produce an offspring.

The pain does not go away after birth.  It becomes a little less piecing.  However, it comes flooding back with every hurt, disappointment, failure, or struggle that our children experience.

But God…

Like many things in life, after great pain comes great joy and great reward.   He says that

“Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.” (Psalm 127:3 NLT).   There is no greater reward.  Children are worth every rip, hurt, and tear.  The pain is so worth it and soon disappears in the mind.  It is replaced with the joy of watching our children grow, dive out of the nest, fly high and thrive.   The blessing of being a mother is beyond any pain ever experienced.  It is pure joy. 

God tells us to “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12 NKJV).   I believe He tells us this because of the pains of parenthood.  I also know that God says to be fruitful and multiply.  Each generation should honor their parentals so they can also experience the joy and reward of children and so on and so on and so on.

I enCOURAGE you to join me  and honor your mother and all the mothers in your life.  Today, I honor my mother, my mother-in-law, all the old mothers, all the new mothers and all the expectant mothers.    Mamas be glad and rejoice in your precious gifts!  You know it was worth it all and you would do it all again for the joy.  This Mom could not be more proud nor more joyful.  My heart is full. 

 

by Tammy Phillips
May 8, 2021

For this is like the days of Noah to Me; as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you. (Isaiah 54:9 AMPC)

When I read this verse and began writing this encouragement, I did not see Mother or Mother’s Day anywhere in it.  Holy Spirit led me in a different direction.  Come see.

Have you ever failed a test?  I have…many times.  Have your kids ever failed a test?  Mine have not; they are perfect –said no one ever.  I wish that I had known more about God’s mercy and grace when my boys were growing up.  I was too busy trying to help them be perfect in all things than showing them the grace and mercy that Father God extends us.  I tried to help them be good and stay out of hell.  Little did I know that all I needed to share with them was the overwhelming love of God and all else would eventually fall in line.   I had heard about how much God loves us all my life, but I did not really start to get it until about ten years ago.  I did not know about merciful God.  I know now.  My picture of God has changed.  I hope yours does.

Listen!  God loves us more than we can imagine.  We cannot do anything to make Him love us anymore than He does and that includes striving for perfection.  Of course, the Lord loves excellence, righteousness, and goodness, but those things do not make Him love us more.  Listen.  God loves us right where we are.  God loves us in the middle of our mess and sin. 

Romans 5:8-10 proves my point:

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:8-10 NKJV) 

Listen!

God is not angry with you.
God is not mad at you. 
God is not displeased with you.
God is not going to burst out in rage at you.
God is not going to break or crack.

We break and we crack.  We rage unnecessarily.   God forgives.  I know most of the time that He sits in heaven and laughs at us.  I can hear His chuckling, loving voice now, “You have ready my word.  You have studied.  You know what to do.  Be kind and merciful.  Love well.  Follow my lead.”  And then…like every other child, who has life lessons to learn while traveling in the ways of the Lord, up and down hills, and around obstacles, we make a wrong turn.  In Isaiah 54:9, the Lord swears never to be angry nor to rebuke us. He just loves us back to the “right” way, His way.   One of my sisters in the Lord said it like this, “God will love us into something better!”  

As mother’s, we do the very best that we can with the knowledge we have at the time. I personally never loved my boys to better by yelling at them.  Forgive me boys?

I enCOURAGE you to see and receive the mercy, kindness, and great love of Father God. He sits in heaven and laughs at you.  He is not mad at you.  In return of His mercy and grace, remember to breathe before you speak. (Sadly, these are words of wisdom that I receive often from my husband and son.  I know that following this wisdom is easier said than done.  Follow the example of our loving Father. Do not break.  Do not crack.  Love well.  Sit back and enjoy life.  Enjoy your children.  They will be gone soon with their own babies. Remember…

“For though the mountains should depart, and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you.”

 

by Tammy Phillips
May 7, 2021

“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. (Isaiah 54:4 NKJV)

Have any of these thoughts ever ran through your head?  “I am not…good enough, kind enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, smart enough, strong enough or rich enough.  I am just not enough.   I am not worthy of love.  I have done a lot of bad things. I wish that I had made better financial decisions.  I wish that I had loved better.  I am too mean, ugly, and fat. I am a weakling. I am a failure.  I just don’t get it.  I am never going to get it.”

All these fearful thoughts have crossed my mind at one time or another.  If you are truthful, you have probably danced with a few of these thoughts yourself.

BUT GOD…as He continues to love us back to Himself…

The Lord says in Isaiah 54:4…

DO NOT FEAR!
You will not be ashamed. (confounded, put to silence, delayed, fail in hope and expectations no confused by guilt or inferiority)
You will not be disgraced. (confounded, disappointed, humiliated, wounded, hurt nor injured)
You will not be put to shame. (to display shame, demonstrate shame, caused embarrassment.)
You will forget the shame and reproach!

I heard the Lord saying through Isaiah 54:4-5, it does not matter who you were or who you are.  Do you KNOW WHO YOUR HUSBAND IS?

For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. (Isaiah 54:5 NKJV) 

The Lord has called YOU!  You are important.  You are special.  You are loved.  You are His.  He has a lot more to say about you and me than those silly lying voices that want to keep us imprisoned in shame, guilt, disappointment, and embarrassment.  The Lord, our Husband, tells us, “Do not fear!  You will not, you will not, you will not be ashamed.”  Anytime the Lord says something three times in a row, we should pay attention.  We should listen the first time, but by the third time we should know that He emphatically means what He said.

For the LORD has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God. (Isaiah 54:6 NKJV)

Have you felt abandoned or forsaken  by a parent? A former boyfriend or girlfriend? A fiancé’ or spouse?  Did that person cheat on you with another?  I know you heard the voice of “Why was I not good enough?”

Listen, no earthly spouse, no matter how wonderful, can ever fulfil the needs that our heavenly husband can.  We are good enough because of WHOSE we are.  He has redeemed us.  He has called us.  He has loved us with an everlasting love and “with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says the LORD, your Redeemer.” (Isaiah 54:8)

I enCOURAGE you with the words of our loving Husband.  “Fear not.  You will not be shamed.”  Let it go into His loving arms. 

 

by Tammy Phillips
May 6, 2021

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 107:1 NKJV)

Ever since the end of January beginning of February, my prayer has been: 
“TURN MY DISGUST INTO YOUR MERCY!” I know my close friends are so tired of hearing those words from me. 

Where does disgust come from?
Current or past leadership?
Vaccine or no vaccine?
Unmet expectations?
Unkept promises?
Unforgiveness?
Selfishness?
You?
Me?

According to Webster’s 1828 dictionary, disgust means to displease; to offend the mind or moral taste. Based on Strong’s concordance, mercy means to be kind and good.    

What disgusts, displeases, or offends? 

Remember, we are not supposed to take offense according to Acts 24:16:  And herein do I exercise myself, to always have a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.  If we are to exercise to be void of offense, we must choose to fill that hole with something, and I believe that the goodness and kindness of God will always work.

Over 41 times in the Old Testament, we are told that God’s mercy endures forever.  I do not know about you. I am trying to become more like my Father.  I would love for it to be said of me that my mercy is endless. I can attest that it is not.  My mercy lasts until I take the offense thrown at me or people exhibit plain ignorance and ungratefulness.  I hate stupid and ungratefulness.  However, God loves us right in the center of our foolishness and thanklessness.  Hence, that is why he dropped the prayer, “Turn my disgust into His mercy” right in the middle of a big pile of my antipathy.

This was such a big problem for me that this phrase is STILL the wallpaper on my phone.   It looks just like the picture above.

I enCOURAGE you to adapt my prayer if you are having problems with offense and disgust in your life.  It is so easy to say be merciful, be kind, and be good.  I am telling you outside the power of God this is impossible for me.  I will also tell you that the transformation is not fun either because it is quite literally crucifying the flesh that tries to rise above. Ouch.

Dear Lord:  When I so quickly and easily forget, please, turn my disgust into your mercy?  Help be good.  Help me be kind. Help me to love well like You do.  In Jesus name, I pray. AMEN.

by Tammy Phillips
May 5, 2021

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV) 

Have you every thanked God for yesterday? I heard this simple phrase rise in my spirit a couple of months ago.  We get so caught up in life that we forget that being thankful is the will of God.  I do not do things for the thanks, but it sure does make a difference when others are grateful for what you do.  How is God different?  He is our Father.  He wants His children to be appreciative just like we do.  Do not take God’s graciousness for granted.  We can do all things with Him and nothing without Him.  We should be thankful to Him for every little and big thing in our lives. It is his will.  Remember to be thankful for every little thing that others do for you, too, not just the big things.

Thank God for your today.
Thank God for your tomorrow.
Thank God for your yesterday.
Thank God for the day before that and the day before that and the day before that…

I enCOURAGE you to freely give thanks to God.  We are nothing and have nothing without Him.

 

 

 

by Tammy Phillips
May 4, 2021

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. … And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Colossians 3:18, 23 KJV)

My husband ask me at least twice in one day before we left our beach cottage, “when do we need to put the garbage to the curb?” If I had “submitted” to his question,  my mother and I would not have had to run out the door, across the front porch and wave down the garbage men.  “Submit” in Colossians 3:18 is not a bad word.   It is the Greek word, hypotassō, meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader.” In non-military use, it was “a voluntary attitude of cooperating, giving in, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden.”  Kris and I have almost been married twenty-eight years.  I know he is wise, maybe just maybe, I will cooperate with his wisdom when he questions me and I will not have to chase down the next garbage man, mail man, or anyone else.

The Waste Management man was so gracious and kind.  He thought nothing of two old women chasing him down in their gowns.  He apologized for not seeing us in the darkness of the early morning.  It was 5:30 AM on a Monday morning and pitch-black outside.  I expressed my gratitude for him taking pause and not driving away.  I told him that I should have listened to my husband.   He laughed and happily said  that it was his job, and he would take anything but my husband.  I was brought to tears by his sincere  kindness and willingness to help us.  Then and there,  I thanked God for the  young man.  I prayed for Lord to honor his great attitude and that the  he would receive favor and promotion.

I enCOURAGE you to submit to your spouse and whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men.    Twenty-eight years and I am still learning to submit to Kris.  I have been with the Lord longer than that and I still  have to be reminded that ever action, reaction, all I say and  do need to be done for the glory of the Lord. 

P.S.  Thank you, Kris for the loving, gentle, admonition on the beach.  I heard you and will make every effort to really practice what I preach.

by Tammy Phillips

The king’s daughter [is] all glorious within: her clothing [is] of wrought gold. (Psalm 45:13 KJV)

I do not know who exactly needs to hear this message today or why, but tune up your ears and turn on Holy Spirit.  He has something to say to YOU!

Beautiful daughter,

You are all glorious within.
You are a child of Light.
You are bright.

You radiate.
You shine.
You sparkle.

You are luscious.
You are lovely.
You are loved.

You are cherished.
You are treasured.
You are adored.

Whether you are pleasantly plump,
Sleek and skinny,
or beefy and buff…

You are beautiful.
You are wanted.
You are necessary.

You are important.
You matter.
You are essential.

You have a purpose.
You are an overcomer.
You are a champion.

You are called.
You are chosen.
You are a co-heir with Christ.

I enCOURAGE you to find a mirror.  Look in it.  Replace all the “You are’s…” from above with “I am…” Make these your declarations today because that is exactly what your Father God thinks about you. He thinks you are stunning.  Period. The End.

by Tammy Phillips
May 2, 2021

“I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMPC

I wish that I could just post the title and you would understand, “Stop and enjoy every moment of life!”  Some of you might understand.  I don’t know.

I am speechless.

Father God:  Weave this together through the power of the Holy Spirit because I have nothing and everything to say.  Please use these fingers to type what you want.  In Jesus Name. Amen.

I was blessed with a new daughter yesterday.  Mary Claire took  Brayden, my eldest son’s hand in marriage.  She gets it and I am thankful she is teaching my son a lesson that I did not learn until much later in life.

Thursday night, the destination wedding celebration began at Watercolor Beach Club in Florida.   Family friends of the Bride hosted  an  INTIMATE, CASUAL Welcome Party completed with a  bonfire, charcuterie boards, and smores.  When tiny Mary Claire arrived, I ask her how she was doing.  She gave me one her huge hugs.  She squeezes BIG.  She responded positively as always. She who is wise beyond her years said, “I am trying to make myself stop, take a step back and take a picture in my mind.  I do not want to forget one moment.”  As a photographer, I try to capture every moment.  I do not want to miss a thing.  I love Mary’s wisdom.  I am going to purpose to put down the camera and take more mental snap shots.  They can be filed away and stored forever, when a photo can not.   I chose to step away from the rectangle of the well-appointed beach chairs that encapsulated the small fire, friends and family.  Rain had been in the forecast all week. God graciously answered our prayers and supplied us with His perfection. The evening was cool, and the sunset was absolutely stunning.  She put on a show that was not meant to be missed.  I stepped away and recorded my memory and  I enjoyed every move she made. I thanked God for the day.

Friday provided another ideal day.   It kicked off early with a  12:15 AM  knock on  our bedroom door with an exclamation from the new Great Granny and a call from our sister-in- aw who was a brand-new Granny, “we have a baby!” Oh, Henry arrived at 11:31 ET.  We stopped and enjoyed every moment. We were now the GREATEST Aunt and Uncle.

Friday continued with a quick (thank you, Rev. Leach!)  9:00 AM rehearsal at Cerulean Park.  

The flawless day  continued with the MOST bridal luncheon at Pescado Seafood Grill  and Rooftop Bar, generously hosted by long-time friends, Mandy Lang, Sandra McDuffie, Casey McNeill, Beth Skudder and Charlotte Wheeler,  who were also mothers of  five of the bridesmaids.   No detail was forgotten.   It was simply ELEGANT.  I did not want to miss one thing so I asked my mother-in-law to switch places with me, so that I could take it ALL in and enjoy every moment…the ocean, the rooftops, the laughs, the tears of Mary, the mothers, the bridesmaids, the aunts and the grandmothers. 

At one point I stopped, stepped to the edge of the rooftop and enjoyed breathing in the ocean air.   I thanked God for the breath in my lungs.  With a full but achy heart, I then offered a simple prayer for strength and courage for our family friend, Ranae Osbourne, and her family.  I was sad in that moment that our family could not be there to love on hers.  At the same time of our roof top celebration, she was celebrating the life of her husband who had unexpectantly had an abrupt end to his young life.   We love you, Ranae.   STOP, TAKE A STEP BACK AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF LIFE…we cannot take it for granted because we do not know when it might end.

The night came to a complete end.  We were honored to host the rehearsal dinner at the Perfect Pig Grill and Fish House in Watercolor.   The restaurants dining room was filled with sixty-five of the kid’s closest friends and family who stopped and unashamedly expressed their admiration for the couple.  Brayden and Mary hung on every word and enjoyed every second. The night could be described in one word- LOVE!  Really, if it had a hashtag, it would be:  #admirable.

Saturday, the wedding day finally arrived after the 10-month postponement due to that illness I am not got going to glorify any longer by name!  The weather had been feared by many  because the ugly disease had cancelled the Seaside Chapel as wedding venue and The Lake House at Watercolor for the place of the reception.  The ceremony had been moved to the open air of Cerulean Park and the reception to the tented Marina Park.  Prayer prevailed and God honored us all with a flawless day. 

Before the wedding began amidst the myriad of pictures being snapped, family friend, Lysbeth Francis offered me some unbelievable advice, “STOP.  GET BY YOURSELF. TAKE A STEP BACK AND JUST ENJOY.  It will be gone before you know it. ”  This is for real.  I am not kidding.  I followed Mary and Lysbeth’s advice several times during the day and into the evening.

• I looked at my son’s finger and imagined the gold band on it.  I purposely took his hand and looked at it after the wedding.
• Neither my son nor I like attention, at all.  As much as I wanted to speed down the aisle, I whispered to him to slow down and enjoy, because we would only do this one time.
• When Mary Claire walked down the aisle, I did not want to miss one second of her radiant beauty.  I chose  to stop and not get mesmerized by her grace but  also to enjoy the look on my son’s face.
• I stopped many times to relish the love between Mary and B.
• The last thing  I did was to delight  in the joy on the face of the Mother of the Bride, Cathy Wilcheck, as our babies walked down the long, graveled path  bordering Marina Park.  It was joyfully lined by family and friends yielding large, lighted balloons and fiercely shaking white pom-poms.   Mary and Brayden stepped into the back of their impeccably decorated golf cart.  And flashed us a peak of their sneakers  that they had donned to dance the night away.  Off they went.  Sheer joy and relief crossed Cathy’s face.  In that moment was speechless.   Emotion welled up. 

How could I thank she and Pat for giving Mary and Brayden the wedding of their dreams?  How I could I thank them for not saying “NO?”    The only thing I could say was “perfection.” God had exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ask or think…God had provided all this, and we knew it.  However, she and Pat were the conduit of His blessings.  Our “thank you’s” and gratitude will never be enough.

I enCOURAGE you in the words of Jesus and  beautiful, daughter of the King Jesus, Mary Claire…”STOP, TAKE A STEP BACK AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF LIFE.”  Jesus gave His life for us and came so that we may have and enjoy life full overflowing.  Live the life He so freely gives on purpose.

by Tammy Phillips
May 1, 2021

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

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

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

But now I know…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The second cloche represents your parents.

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

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

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

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

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

The smallest and last cloche represents you both.

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

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

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

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

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