Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
What I say What I speak What I declare What I confess What I sing What I write What I tweet What I text What I post What I toast
What my heart meditates What my heart radiates What my heart ponders What my heart wonders What my heart sounds What my heart murmurs What my heart mutters What my heart utters What my heart growls What my heart groans
Everything I say and everything I think, may it delight You, my Lord, my Strength, my Rock, My Redeemer.
I enCOURAGE you to delight our Lord with your words and thoughts. Think about what you are saying. Think about what you are thinking. Do your words and thoughts delight the Lord?
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and [toward] men. (Acts 24:16 KJV)
I wrote this difficult letter to my friend who tragically lost her son…
Dear Sparks:
A conscience void of offense toward God. What a mouthful! (Have I ever even read that part of the verse before?). My high and mighty, hypocritical self would say, “Never, God! Never would I be offended by you!” I would be lying to God and to myself. I have to be honest. I have been upset with God. I have been offended by God or rather what I thought God allowed. I have said to Him, “You are God. How did you let this happen? Why did you allow this excruciating pain? Why did you not save this marriage? Why didn’t you heal? Why did you let this baby die? Why did you let my grandfather die of a heart attack; I laid hands on him and begged for his life?” I hate to admit it, but I have asked these questions more than once.
When your baby boy passed at 27, I asked God these questions. When Trey Erwin, 15, succumbed to cancer in 2012, I asked God about it. When Collin Kilgore,18, was taken in 2015 in a horrible car accident, I questioned God. When Donnie Everett, 19 drowned in 2016 before the NCAA baseball regional, I questioned. When my family has suffered and all I could do is pray and endure, I yelled out to God. Shall I go on? Shall I name the fifteen other children who have tragically died that I know? I do not get it. I do not understand. I never will.
You and I prayed for Brandon. This was not a one and done petition to the throne. I know you visited many more times than I did on behalf of your only son. I believed God for Brandon’s future. I believed God for his protection. I believed God to turn his life around. (Although I know you had your own questions, you have strongly said… “I am thankful for the time we had with him.” What a testimony!) God is big and loves us so much. He can take the questions and love us through it.
I have claimed Acts 24:16 many times to help me not take offense. I am not sure I have ever claimed it in response to God until I had to about Brandon.
I know God can take the questions and He does. It is like when your spouse comes home from a bad day at work and they take their frustrations out on you. The frustration and anger are misplaced. The same is true concerning God. I have learned that He is not to blame. The Word says in John 1:2 (KJV) “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”. His words in John 10:10, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” He says, “no weapon formed against you may prosper.” We want the best for our children. How much more does God want the best for His kids?
Want to be offended at someone? The first part of John 10:10 states: “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.” The thief is our enemy; be offended by his actions. He leads us to sin and sin, sadly leads to death of relationships, livelihoods and lives. Sin leads to eternal separation from God. However, God sent us Jesus so that we do not have to experience eternal separation from God. We will live forever with Him, when we choose Him. We know that life is but a vapor and death on earth is so painful, but praise God it is not the end game.
I enCOURAGE you to exercise, labor and train to have a clear conscience of offense toward God. He is only worthy of our love, thankfulness and praise. He is after all our Savior, Healer and Deliverer. If you have to be offended, take it out on the enemy and just do good.
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and [toward] men. (Acts 24:16 KJV)
The Greek word for exercise in the above verse is used one time in scripture. It means to exercise: take pains; labour; strive.
The English Standard Version translates Acts 24:16:
“So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.”
The Amplified version translate like this:
“Therefore, I always exercise and discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men.”
It is easy to puff up and become offended. It is easy to believe a lie or think you know the whole story, when in fact you are just guessing. The enemy of our soul, Satan, loves to feed and fuel the fire of offense. When Satan tried to steal my joy before and after my son’s proposal party, I really, really had to exercise myself to not take the offenses. Think about it this way. With every drop of blood that Jesus dripped on the cross, he exercised himself to be void of offense toward God and man. He did not yell at the Father on the cross, “WHY ME? I do not deserve this!” Instead, he exercised incomprehensible love to all that had beat him, spat at him, mocked him, hated him and to those who crucified him. He said of them, “Father, forgive them? They do not know what they are doing!” He dropped all offense at the cross. Why should we take it?
Thankfully, God also has such a sense of humor. He showed me this illustration. In the past I would have retreated into my turtle shell, taken and worn every hurt. And, I would have retreated from those who “hurt my feelings.” However, God transformed me into bulldawg. Well, I have bulldawg faith and characteristics. He has made me bold, courageous, & tenacious. He has taught me to address issues quickly. (Give no place to the devil.) The Holy Spirit has led me to take a vow of silence on days when I have been hurt. Say what? You heard me. Do not talk about it. Do not text about it. Do not email about it. Do not post about it. Peace. Be still. He has had me keep my mouth quiet a lot lately. “I” have so very many things I would like to say and yet I must remain silent.
Last year, when I chose to be silent after my son’s engagement, one offense was actually a lie from the pits of hell. It was exposed AS SOON AS I chose the vow of silence. Glory to God! The other one…I dealt with when l was led by Father God.
I enCOURAGE you to exercise to have a clear, unshaken conscience, void of offense toward God, man or woman. It might be painful to the flesh. It will be laborious, but I encourage you to strive for it. It will be freedom to your soul.
Throw offense out the door! Do not hold on to it. Release it. It is freedom.
by Tammy Phillips January 27, 2021
“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:7 NKJV)
Jesus himself warns us about offense in this verse. Sadly, He says that they are coming.
Let’s take heed and discover what offense really is. Offense in this verse is the Greek word, skandalon, which means:
the movable stick or trigger of a trap
any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall, a stumbling block
Satan is a liar and he is trying to trap us. Imagine that? Satan uses offense to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) He uses it to steal joy. He uses it to destroy family, friendships, relationships and lives. He uses offense to divide. It is our choice whether we take the bait and fall into his trap. We get to choose how we deal with stumbling blocks. If we are awake and watching, we can maneuver around the obstacles with God’s help. We can go over, around or break through, if need be.
One of my son’s got engaged this past weekend, a year ago. It was the most joyous occasion. Satan tried to get me offended on the way to the party and when I got home, he tried to strike again. He tried to mar what God had done. I determined not to let him steal my joy. It was not his for the taking. I stood resolute against offense!
Power thoughts:
I will DO the word. I will have faith in God’s Word. I will “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. I will…
“Put on the whole armor of God, that I may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (I will) take the whole armor of God, that I may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand..” (Ephesians 6:10-11, 13)
I enCOURAGE you to not take offense. It is your choice just like it was and is mine. I encourage you to do the word and stand against the enemy. Be resolute!
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22 NKJV)
Some have a really hard time with trials and with faith. Some say we are trying to get faith, don’t have enough faith or are just trying to believe. All we need to do is act on what God says.
Kenneth Hagin says that instead of saying: “Have faith,” that he says, “Act on God’s Word,” because that is exactly what faith is!
Raymond T. Richey, a man mightily used of God in the healing ministry was asked, “What is faith?” He replied, “Faith is just acting on God’s Word.” Smith Wigglesworth would say, “Faith is an act.”
Faith is simply believing God is who He says He is; He will do what He says He will do, then acting on His Word.
I enCOURAGE you to be a doer of God’s word. Read God’s word. Learn God’s Word. Hear God’s Word. Act on God’s Word!
And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God. ( Mark 11:22 AMPC)
This is one of my favorite scriptures. You would think it meant to trust in God. He’s got it, whatever your “it” is. He does got it, if your trust is in Him. He may not always have it the way you think he does, but He’s got it! However, this verse really says have faith…in God or have God kind of faith. Say what? God kind of faith?
The faith that believes all things are possible.
The faith that moves mountains.
The faith believes you are an OVERCOMER.
I enCOURAGE you to have faith, take faith, wear your God kind of faith! To His Glory! Amen. H A V E F A I T H!
This is not the best quality photo from the night of Brayden and Mary’s engagement. I snapped it when they were listening to their father’s words. However, It is one of my favorites. It shows joy, happiness, tenderness, and their love for each other. He chose to do good and bless his bride to be. I know the adoration is mutual and it is a beautiful thing to see.
by Tammy Phillips January 24, 2021
“So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good to all people [Be mindful to be a blessing] especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers].” (Galatians 6:10 AMPC)
The Holy Spirit had been relentlessly, yet softly, whispering this scripture in my ear for days. What are you trying to say Father? The light bulb finally went on.
I have repeatedly told my boys, Brayden and Parker, you only get one chance to do it right the first time. When Brayden, my oldest was proposing to precious Mary Claire. He texted me a picture of the ring. I commented, “Beautiful. This is for real!” He replied, “No going back, now.” He was correct. We get second chances in life, but no go-backs, no do overs of doing it right the first time. He had once chance to propose and do it the right way. And he did it right. He was a blessing to his bride to be with a gorgeous ring and a surprise, proposal party.
The focus verse says that we need to take every opportunity, every chance to do it right the first time, to do good to all people. Every opportunity, we need to be mindful to be a blessing. We always have the opportunity, don’t we?
How many times have we said, “We’re praying for you?” and we never lifted the brother or sister up to throne. We must stop and do it at the given opportunity. How many times have we raised our voice to the person on the other end of the phone because things were not going as we expected or wanted? How many times have we missed an opportunity to bless the person who cut us off on the road and instead we chose to curse them?
I enCOURAGE you as each opportunity opens up, every chance you get, to do good to all people. Choose to be a blessing. Make their day or life better by simply choosing and doing good. If we all did good at EVERY opportunity, what a different place the world would be.
P.S. However, thank God that His word teaches us about grace, mercy and forgiveness. If we do not do it right the first time, he teaches about second, third and four hundred and ninety do overs.
Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. (Psalms 146:1 KJV)
As a reminder, I originally wrote these devotions to encourage my sister in Christ whose son passed, way too early. She inspired today’s devotional with the picture above and with a corresponding text, “It is well with my soul.” Here is the amazing story behind that song.
Horatio Gates Spattford was a prominent Chicago lawyer and businessman. He wrote, “It Is Well With My Soul” in 1873. This hymn was written after 3 major traumas in Spafford’s life. His 4year old son died of Scarlett fever in 1871. Then the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, burned his real estate investments which ruined him financially. Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic on November 22, 1873 to vacation, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife. Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, he sailed to join her. As Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired the words of the song. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth.
Spattford and Anna, his wife, had a consistent history of acting on their faith. After the great Chicago fire of 1871, and their loss, they devoted countless hours to helping the survivors. After the ordeal at sea, Anna and Horatio Spafford left their Presbyterian congregation and hosted prayer meetings in their home. Their study was dubbed “the Overcomers” by the American press. In 1881, they moved to Jerusalem (taking two daughters born after the shipwreck tragedy) and helped found a group called the American Colony; its mission was to serve the poor. The colony later became the subject of the Nobel prize winning, Jerusalem, by Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf.
Sparkle:
Like you, his wife was conscious of a soft voice speaking to her, “You were saved for a purpose!”
Like you, my strong and mighty sister, Mr. Spattford could have been overwhelmed with grief, pain and the tragedies of his life. BUT GOD!!!
Like you, he chose faith.
Like you, he chose life.
Like you, instead of being overwhelmed, he chose to be an OVERCOMER. His story and faith reflect yours.
Look what he did. He did not fear. He kept stepping. And, I can hear him saying:
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:20 KJV)
Out of his extreme pain, he went on to be a blessing to many during his life, and ultimately, generations of people. He wrote a beautiful song that enCOURAGEd you 146 years later. Like him, I believe God will use you for great things too, as your mission has always been to bless others.
I enCOURAGE you to keep the faith. Keep believing. Keep saying. Keep singing: “It is well with my soul.”
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 1:2 NKJV)
Remember…
“It’s easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God.” -Anna Spattford
“Strength and honor are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.” (Proverbs 31:25 NASB)
A woman who follows hard after God is confident and resolute in who she is. She knows that she is daughter of the King. She is the apple of His eye. She is clothed in strength and honor and glory, not because of who she is but Whose she is. She walks confidently in Him. She does not fear because she has great faith in her Daddy. She trusts that His Word is true and faithful. She is assured that she is never alone. She can always count on him.
Even though life may not have led her down the path she had imagined, and she may have experienced unspeakable disappointments and hardships, she is able to laugh at her future. She is able to talk to the future fearlessly and say, “I am not afraid of you. I laugh at you because my Father holds my future in his hand.” She laughs at the future, saying: “No weapon forms against me shall prosper.” She smiles at the days to come and simply says, “nothing is impossible for my God!”
I enCOURAGE you, sister, as you continue to clothe yourself in His strength and His glory to boldly laugh at your future. There is not one thing to fear.
When you cry what happens to all those tears! Be encouraged. They are treasured. The word of God says:
You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? (Psalm 56:8 NKJV)
Every time I read God’s word; I find a new nugget. I am amazed by this verse.
God has his own GPS on us. He takes a count of when we are happy, sad, shaken, or moved. He records when we are so upset that we can do nothing but move to and fro. He also collects our tears in His bottle. He cares so much that He captures everyone and records it in his book. Wow. Just wow.
So, for now, I enCOURAGE you to cry as often as you need. Cry happy tears or sad tears. Remember, they both have a God delivered natural pain killer to make you feel better and to relieve stress. Treasure the fact that he captures every one.
Complete in Him 