Category: Uncategorized

by Tammy Phillips
March 1, 2021

Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.(Romans 12:12 NKJV)

I collect nativities.  On a trip, I found a Kalalou clay nativity for a bargain price.  On Wednesday night, after returning home, I discovered that my newfound treasure had accidentally been disposed of in a nearby trash compactor.  I was crushed.  I assumed my sweet nativity was also.  However, then hope, the patient, confident expectation of good was birthed in my heart.

The garbage site was closed on Thursday which gave me time to think.  I began “rejoicing in hope.”  A calm happy overtook my thinking.  Our trash had to be one of the last deposited into the crusher.  Each piece of my treasure had been carefully wrapped and packed snuggly in its box. Could it have survived?  Hope grew.

Early on Thursday morning, I determined to be patient in tribulation which means to persevere under pressure.  Hope arose!  I made a big sign and tied it over the gate of the recycling center.  “Please call me! I am looking for a treasure that was accidentally thrown away.”  It was worth the ask.  I began to seek out anyone who would listen.  I was persistent and left three massages with three different individuals at Waste Management.  I heard nothing.  I sought harder.  I found and left a message with the man who was responsible for the schedule of the dumping of the crushers.  He returned my call about 11:30 AM.  He had already climbed into the compactor and found the box that I had described in my message.

I ran and claimed it.  I thanked God and the kindhearted man.  I took my crushed little box home.  Unwavering hope and persistence had paid off.  The set included ten pieces. The gracious man had told me that some were untouched.  I carefully unwrapped each one.  I was in search of Jesus.  I first found the three wisemen. They had survived the metal ram and had persevered under the pressure of the compactor.  The baby animals endured. They had been patient in the tribulation of the trash.  Mary bore bravely through the trouble of the rubble.  Joseph’s legs had been amputated, but he did not flee from the debris. Outwardly, the angel had been shattered to pieces, but her insides were still standing strong.  Sadly, Baby Jesus had been decapitated, but I knew our Loving Father would put Him together again better than before.  Hope was in His resurrection and rise from the refuse.  He too would remain and abide with me.

I enCOURAGE you to rejoice in hope.  Have confident expectation of good.  It will come when you are patient in tribulation and persevere under pressure.  Jesus is our example.  He endured to death.  Look at the difference His life made in history and humanity.  What a difference your life will make in the lives of others when you show them how you bear bravely and resolutely hope. 

by Tammy Phillips
February 28, 2021

“Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters.  Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];”. James 1:19 AMP

Once I asked our son to take out the garbage, including some broken down boxes on the garage floor.  I had broken them down for easier disposal.  I had left two full boxes on a cooler sitting near the garbage. One box contained some glass pieces for my sister-in-law and the other a nativity.  I had just purchased a greatly discounted Kalalou Nativity set from one of my favorite stores, Grace251 in Dalton, GA.  I had not put it in its proper place.

I know what happened. Parker heard me, but he was in a hurry to take trash off before heading to work.  He attempted to be thorough and take off all the trash, but he had not paid close attention to what I had said.  Both of the boxes that I had set aside ended up in the crusher at our recycling center.

Sadly, he was not quick to listen on that day.  I was no better because I was not slow to speak nor slow to anger when I realized what had happened.

How many times have we heard, Proverbs 4:20? “My son, pay attention to my words! Open your ears to my sayings!”  How many times has God tried to get our attention?  How many times has what God intended for us, ended up in the recycling bin of our lives because we did not pay attention?

I enCOURAGE you to be quick to hear. I enCOURAGE you to pay attention to what God and others say.  I think you would agree. We do not want our blessings to end up being trashed.  (To be continued)

by Tammy Phillips
February 27, 2021

The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion. (Proverbs 28:1 NKJV)

Unusual images of lions have tracked across my phone screen as I perused Instagram, Facebook and even email.  Finally, a light bulb came on.  The Holy Spirit was trying to get my attention.  He wanted to teach me something to increase my faith.  I studied scripture and the traits of lions. What follows is what I learned.

I realized that I had allowed some stressors to take me to timid land, not a place where lions live.  Looking at the focus verse, “The wicked flee when no one pursues…” which to me means the guilty escape and try to hide for no apparent reason.  I was worrying and trying to escape from it all instead of facing it head on.

However, the Lord tells us over and over in His word not to worry.  He also tells us, “Do not fear.”  Scripture states that the “righteous are bold as a lion.”  Well, what does that mean?  Proverb 30 defines it perfectly: “There are three things which are stately in step, yes, four which are stately in their stride: The lion, which is mightiest among beasts and turns not back before any;” (Proverbs 30:29-30 AMPC)

A lion knows who he is!  He knows how to regally step!  A lion knows that he rules in his territory. He is mighty, brave, strong and courageous!  He is not fearful of anything nor anyone.  A lion does not retreat from enemy attack.   A lion sure does not worry because he spends most of his day just resting!

In conclusion, the righteous are as bold as a lion because the Word says, “Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 AMPC) And,  He who lives in you is the LION OF THE TRIBE of JUDAH!  He is the King of Kings!  He has overcome.  He fears nothing.  We are righteous in Him and thus, BOLD AS A LION! 

I encourage you in the righteousness of Christ Jesus to be bold as a lion in all you do, say and believe! To God be the Glory!  Hallelujah! Amen!

by Tammy Phillips
February 26, 2021

Do all things without murmurings and disputings… (Philippians 2:14 KJV)

After waking up a little grumpy, and happily expressing my discontent, I agreed to a 30-day “no complaining” challenge at approximately 10:06 am.

Fast forward to 10:45 am, the same day, I made a long trip to a doctor’s office because they would not email me a receipt.  I needed the receipt to justify a $1.35 charge on our flexible spending account debit card!  It had been suspended because I had only verified $45 of a $46.35 charge. When I arrived at the doctor’s office, I found that this was not an insurance charge, but the office had charged me their card processing fee! I cannot tell you how much time I spent chasing down this $1.35 charge because it was not on my original receipt.

It took less than forty minutes for me to lose it.  I lost the 30-day challenge in less than an hour!  Why?

1. I should have prayed about the challenge and immediately enlisted God’s help. I didn’t.
2. I should have immediately prayed when I realized a trap had been laid. I didn’t.
3. I should have SET my mind on things above. I didn’t.
4. I should have immediately claimed and confessed, Philippians 2:14, but I didn’t.
5. I should not have lost control and complained. (I will not even tell you how high my blood pressure was when I went to my regularly scheduled doctor’s appointment after going to the $1.35 doctor.  My heart was beating out of my chest!)

Thank God, You let us begin again!  So, I did!
Thank God for Jesus who knew that I would act just like Peter and deny the Word.  Thank you, Jesus! It cost you Your life, but you paid for my murmuring sin.

The Word was beside me. The Word was inside me. The Word had been right before my eyes.  However, instead of evoking the power of the Word, I allowed my flesh to rise and take over.  I stepped out of the light and into the darkness for a few minutes.

However, thankfully, the Word of God says in 1 John 1:7 and 9, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

So, I confess.  I lost it.

Don’t we all?  When I do lose it, I have a Savior!  He saves me over and over again. Every time that I fail, He is there to help me stand back up.  So, I failed that test.  His mercies are new every morning.  I did not take my sin lightly.  I murmured. I complained, but Jesus paid for those sins 2000 years ago.

Forgive me, Father was the only thing I could say.
Accepting His forgiveness was what I had to do.
I began again. 

I accepted the 30-day “no complaining” challenge, again.  It’s not like I had a choice. The word says to do all things without murmuring.  This is a command not a suggestion.

I enCOURAGE you to follow Jesus and not me!  However, if you fail or fall, accept God’s forgiveness and begin again!

by Tammy Phillips
February 25, 2021

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Philippians 2:14-15 KJV)

Do:

• Make it happen
• Be the author of
• Perform a promise
• Commit
• Fulfill

All things without murmuring:

• Muttering
• Complaining
• Grumbling
• Faultfinding
• Querulous discontent

And disputing:

• Inward reasoning
• Inward deliberating
• Questioning
• Doubting

That you may show yourselves to be…

• Blameless and guiltless
• Harmless and innocent
• Free from evil
• Unmixed and uncontaminated
• Pure

children of God without rebuke…

• Blemish
• Faultless
• Unrebukable

in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you…

SHINE AS BRIGHT LIGHTS (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world.”

-Philippians 2:14-15
Broken down and torn apart to see what it all really means.  Bottom line…

COMPLAINING DILUTES OUR LIGHT!

My sister and I awoke a little grumbly.   She asked if wanted to do a 30-day “No complaining” challenge.  I immediately agreed.  I have done it before, and it changed the way I talked.  Time for a tune up. 

I enCOURAGE you to not complain for 30 days!
I enCOURAGE you not to murmur for 30 days.
I enCOURAGE you not to dilute your sparkle nor shine.

 (To be continued…)

 

by Tammy Phillips
February 24, 2021

They looked unto Him and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. (Psalm 34:5 KJV)

I thought I would go to the word to see if sparkle was in the Bible. What treasure I found!  It amazed me!  Let’s study the word lightened in this verse. In Hebrew “lightened” is the word, nahar.  It only occurs one time in the Bible with the meaning: to shine; to beam; to light; to burn; be radiant; TO SPARKLE! 

Say what?! 

2 Corinthians 3:18  states:

“And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.”

We have two scriptures that tell us when we look to Him that we reflect His image, His glory.  We sparkle.

The Webster’s 1828 definition defines sparkle perfectly:

As a noun…

• A spark.
• A luminous particle.
• A light.
• Radiant.

As a verb…

• Emit sparks.
• Spirit and energy are contagious.
• Send off small, ignited particles
• Glisten
• Twinkle and shine.

More importantly, both Psalms 34:5 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 define what it means to sparkle.    

You will sparkle and shine because you look to Him first.
You will look to Him instead of running away.
You will look to Him to help you in every way.
You will look to Him and his word.
You will look to Him to meet your needs.
You will look to Him to meet the needs of others.
You will look to Him for song.
You will look to Him for dance.
You will look to Him for joy.
You will look to Him and trust Him no matter.
You will look to Him and you are lightened.
You will look to Him and are not ashamed.
You will look to Him and reflect his glory.
You will look to Him and you will SPARKLE.

I enCOURAGE you to always look to Him and to continue  to SPARKLE.

 

by Tammy Phillips
February 23, 2021

I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalms 34:4 KJV)

I SOUGHT:

• Seek
• Resort to
• Frequent
• Investigate
• Enquire
• Require
• Tread to a place
• Seek in prayer
• Worship
• Study
• Follow

THE LORD.

HE HEARD:  

• Listened
• Paid Attention          
• Responded  
• Spoke
• Sang
• Shouted        

HE DELIVERED:

• Snatched away       
• Pulled Out    
• Preserved     
• Saved
• Rescued       
• Took Away   

FROM ALL MY FEARS.

David resorted to the Lord God Almighty, Creator of All, and the Lord paid attention to what David had to say.  He answered him.  God even sang and shouted over him. Our Father snatched David away from every fear.  All means all.  All fear gone.  He did it for David. He will do it for us!

I enCOURAGE you to follow David’s example.  Resort to the Lord! (I am resorting to the Lord on my faith-cation this week.  He and I are getting away together.)  Seek the Lord. He will rescue you from every fear! 

by Tammy. Phillips
February 22, 2021

O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt his name together. (Psalms 34:3 KJV)

Just like an amplifier amplifies the strums of a guitar, David asks us to join him and magnify the Lord.  The Hebrew translation of the word “magnify” is much more interesting than its English significance. The word isgadal which means to twist, as in a cord, to make firmer and stronger, or like wrestlers who twist their bodies together and grow stronger.  David was saying let’s get together and make God more famous. Is that even possible? He is God.

David continues to say,  “let us exalt and raise His name together.”  There is strength in numbers. “Together” is the Hebrew word, yahad, which means union of time and place.  It comes from the root word that means united or joined together.

Along with David, I ask you to join me, united.

I enCOURAGE you to be a MAGNIFYING UNIT.  Let’s strum our vocal cords together and spread the fame of our Lord.

by Tammy Phillips
February 21, 2021

My soul makes its boast in the LORD; The humble and downtrodden will hear it and rejoice… (Psalms 34:2 NKJV)

This verse could be our mission statement every morning.  Translated it means something like this to me.  “Hey, look at God! Isn’t He something? We have to tell everybody about how good He is.  He will change your life.  He is something else”

Seriously, let’s look at a couple of words from Psalm 34.  First, “boast” translated is halal…like hallelujah.  It means to be brilliant; to be clear; to shine; to flash forth light; to make a show; to act foolish; to rave; to celebrate; to commend; glory; praise.

We really should not boast about anything other than God because He is really the only thing worthy of our hallelujah’s.

“What scope there is for holy boasting in Jehovah! His person, attributes, covenant, promises, works, and a thousand things besides, are all incomparable, unparalleled, and matchless”- Charles Spurgeon

And, whomever we come in contact with, benefits from our hallelujah’s. The greatest thing about acting a fool for God is its life-changing:

The downtrodden…
The afflicted…
The depressed…
The occupied…
The brow-beaten…
The Eeyore’s of the world…

will HEAR about our God and rejoice!

When we boast in Him, the sad turns glad.
When we boast in Him, the humble rejoice.

Samach is the Hebrew word for rejoice. It literally means to brighten up.

I enCOURAGE you to continually boast, praise and glory in the Lord because your “extra” literally brightens the days of others. 

by Tammy Phillips
February 21, 2021

Therefore, we do not become discouraged [utterly spiritless, exhausted, disappointed and wearied out through fear]. Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] changed [renewed, renovated, into a new kind as opposed to the former corrupt state] day after day. (2 Corinthians 4:16 AMP)

Who renovates us from the inside out?  Jesus, the Word, he was a carpenter by trade! Who better?  Who does this work in us?

Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher, Perfecter of our faith… (Hebrews 12:2)

He finishes what He starts.  He is the Chief of Completeness (Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6)  He always has a plan.  In Jeremiah 29:11 the word of God says:

 For I know the thoughts and plans that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace (completeness), and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

He gets it done.  He has the vision and sees it to completion.

Not only did God begin the project of you, but He also pursues you.  He works on you and for you tirelessly each and every day. Why? Because you are precious to Him! He is always thinking about you.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them. ¹⁷ How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! ¹⁸ If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, [could I count to the end] I would still be with You. (Psalm 139:16-18 AMPC)

God has the plan to complete us and to perfect us into who we ought to be. He renovates us from the inside out by his Word.  Reading and obeying God’s word will renovate your life.  It will change us into who we are meant to be.

Renovations can be messy, costly and exhausting. We have to trust the Chief that He has the plan and that in the long run the “reno” will be worth it! Trust the Great Fixer Upper with the renovation of your life. Catch His vision. You see imperfect. He sees perfect. You see walls falling down and your world falling apart. He sees a hope and a future. Trust him! He will turn the imperfect, out of date, dilapidated into a fresh thing of beauty reflecting His Glory!

I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. (Philippians 1:6)

I enCOURAGE you to let the word of God renew and renovate your life. Embrace the work He is doing in and through you from glory to glory. He does really good work. I can definitely recommend Him.