Category: Uncategorized

by Tammy Phillips
September 4, 2020

David  to Saul, when he volunteered to  battle the giant,“Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:32 NKJV). David saw “this Philistine” as an insignificant foe against the Lord. 
What great words to adopt.  Fill in the blank:

“Let no man’s heart fail because of _________!”

• coronavirus
• cancer
• depression
• death
• a broken heart
• great loss
• political unrest
• work
• lack of work
• any sickness
• any obstacle
• any giant
• NOTHING

David encouraged his heart and mind.  He boldly declared to Saul his preparedness to battle the giant.  David remembered his history with God:

“I went out after it and struck it, and delivered it from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught [it] by its beard, and struck and killed it. The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear,  He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37 NKJV)

Naturally, David’s victory over Goliath looked impossible.  God had prepared him all of his life for this battle.  David realized that God’s story, His history was David’s history.  He was nothing without God.  David remembered that he had went out after, struck and defeated a lion and a bear; so, what was a giant?  God had delivered him before and would do it again.  Remember!  We need to recall the many times that God has been faithful and delivered us from past giants. 

Early in our marriage, Kris and I championed a phrase, “This will not defeat me!”  We have put it to practice.  Years ago, I was delivered from cancer in one swoop.  I had a hysterectomy.  The doctor asked if I wanted the good news or the bad news, first.  The bad news was that I had uterine cancer; the good news was that the surgery had  completely cured me.  I did not require chemo nor radiation.  Praise God!  When the fear of cancer came knocking again and rose against me in the form of an abnormal mammogram requiring a biopsy, I struck back and told the enemy that he was knocking at the wrong door.  He was!  Lastly, I went through a horrific personal battle, and lost hearing in one ear, all at the same time.   My loss was so significant that the ENT doctor said he did not know if I would ever regain my hearing.  The Lord reminded me that I could stand up to the enemy and say, “Not today, Satan!”  Two days later, my hearing returned.  God is faithful!   

I enCOURAGE you not to let your heart fail! “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not on lean on your own thoughts…for as you think in your heart, so are you. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.  Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all who hope in the LORD. (Proverbs 3:5, 23:7, 4:23; Psalm 31:24)

I pray your battle cry be, “from the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I and though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident…The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD [is] the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 61:2, 27:3, 27:1)

And may your song be…”My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.” (Psalm 57:7 NKJV)

by Tammy Phillips
September 3, 2020

In the story of David and Goliath, the first thing we hear in Samuel 17:4-7 is about Goliath’s greatness.  Samuel used about 100 words to describe his magnitude.

Isn’t that exactly what we do with the “giants” in our life?  Our focus is on their celebrity.  We read about their greatness of our problems. We listen to doctors, experts, the media and even friends ascribe to their significance. How many words have we heard about Co-Vid 19? Cancer? Depression? Failure?  What or who is your giant?

Goliath instilled great fear and dismay with his taunting words to Israel for 40 days, night and day. When they awoke and before went to bed, they heard the nagging enemy.

Doesn’t our enemy do the same? He torments us night and day.  What fears comes to mind when you hear the word, cancer?  Does the word Corona virus shake you?  How about the word pain?  One of Satan’s greatest weapons is to agitate us and inject our mind with the poison of fear.

Israel’s mistake, they were amazed and terrified by Goliath’s size and words.  All of Israel was very afraid, revered and awed the giant.

Are we in awe of the corona virus?  Has it paralyzed us?  Fear and faith do not coexist.   One will rise above the other.  If we are fear full, we cannot be faith full, brave nor courageous. The only thing we are to fear is God. The only thing we should be amazed or in awe of is God.  With Him on our side, we should never run nor hide from anything!

David does not see the giant like everyone else. He is not in awe.  He doesn’t even call Goliath by his name.   He calls it like he sees it: “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Shouldn’t we do the same?  Instead of being in awe of cancer and its deadly effects, shouldn’t we call it like it is?   “For who is this evil disease sent from the pits of hell, that you should raise your head against my God? Who do you think you are?”   We should not be amazed by the name covid, cancer, depression, sickness, death nor by the name of any leader nation or organization.   We should not give glory to any name, accept God.  My Bible says that Jesus is name above all names and at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess Jesus is Lord.  Cancer cells have life.  They must bow at the name of Jesus.  Covid obviously has a life of its own and must bow at the name of Jesus.

David’s brother didn’t like his words too much.  When we are quaked to our core and greatly or dreadfully afraid, the last thing in the world we want is someone telling us to be courageous. 

However, the word of the Lord says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NKJV).  

I enCOURAGE you to boldly address the giants in your life in the name of the Lord.  Call them out in the mighty name of Jesus. Do not be in awe of them only be amazed by our Great, All Powerful and All Loving God.  Expect Him to do amazing things and He will.

Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” (Luke 5:26 NLT)

by Tammy Phillips
September 2, 2020

When God gifts us a gift of light, whether it be enlightening scripture that strengthens, good news that brightens, a song that makes our soul soar, or a simple word of encouragement, we cannot let anyone steal it.  We cannot let the enemy steal our joy nor turn off the light switch that God has turned on.  

I just finished a fast for the month of August.  Unexplainably, Holy Spirit refreshed and poured into me, as I spent time in His word seeking Him.  I feel like I have been on a trip with Him around the world.  September 1^st appeared and immediately the enemy tried to move me into fear and extinguish the joy and light.  I heard the Accuser taunt: “Remember the last extended trip you took with Lord? Remember the crap that hit the fan?  Remember how painful that was?”

I responded, “I will not fear. No weapon formed against me will prosper.”  He kept nagging.  And then God in all His glory had this verse waiting:

“Moreover, let us also be full of joy NOW! Let us exult and triumph In our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and UNSWERVING ENDURANCE. (Romans 5:23 AMPC)

Be full of joy!  Triumph over troubles and that is plural.  Troubles are coming.  “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory in Christ Jesus!”   Be victorious, not in only one trouble, but in troubles.  Rejoice in sufferings. What?  If we choose to rejoice in suffering, what are we doing?  We are saying to the enemy, “You cannot turn out my Light.  You might try to hit the dimmer switch, but the Light is still on.  You will not move me from the promises of God.  God said that I would get through this to the other side.”     Troubles, sufferings, pressure, afflictions, and hardship produce UNSWERVING ENDURANCE. 

After combining a few definitions of unswerving, this what I determined it to mean:  Do not waver or wander. Do not turn aside from a straight line of course or ruled of duty. Do not depart From what is established by law, duty or custom. Do not deviate. Stay the course. Be resolute.

God uses  all troubles to keep us on course!  Unswerving, staying on course, endurance!

Watch what God did to further encourage!  I went to Tuesday prayer at LifePoint Church, Pastor Stephanie Burnette, dropped  this Ephesians 5:15 bomb on the enemy who was trying to turn off my light.  

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.”  I discovered that the word circumspectly makes this verse actually read like this:

“See then that you walk the most-straightest, the most exact not as fools but as wise.” Unswerving endurance.

Unswerving was such a weird word, I dug deeper to see if there was more treasure hidden in God’s word.  BAM!

 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23 NIV)

See it?  Hold on unswervingly to the hope!  Hold on unswervingly to light, the word, the hope that God has given.  It does not matter how the enemy taunts because he is a LIAR and because …GOD WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL! We can count on Him, ever time.  Next…

“For you have need of UNSWERVING ENDURANCE, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away and enjoy to the full what is promised. He 10:36

Unswerving endurance helps us walk the straight line, stay focused, avoid distractions, be resolute, do God’s purposes and enjoy what He has promised!

What a promise! …Stand firm, and you will win life. (Luke 21:19 NIV). Unswerving endurance leads to victory!!!

Lastly, look what Joel says about the army of God in Joel 2:7-11:

They climb barricades.  Overcome obstacles.  Nothing stops them. Each soldier does what he’s told, so disciplined, so determined. Each one knows his job and does it. Undaunted and fearless, unswerving, unstoppable…Look at the size of that army! And the strength of those who obey him! 

I encourage you to “comfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them make them steadfast and keep them unswerving in every good work and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:17).  “We have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.  The best of the three is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:13 (MSG) #RESOLUTE2020

by Tammy Phillips
September 1, 2020!

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you… I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that believes (Romans 1:15-16 KJV)

In 60 words or less here is the good news!  Hear the power that saves you , here and now!

All power stepped from heaven into the shape of a man, Jesus.  Jesus was born of a virgin mama, lived, was beaten, died horrifically on the cross, rose again, left us the Holy Spirit and is coming back soon.  He did this all for you and me. He bought back life for us He paid what we could not…all our wrongs.  Why? Because of his unfathomable love.

Are you weak?  Need some power?  The table is set eat all you want.  Feast on God’s word!

Trust in him at all times; people, pour out your heart before him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongs to God. (Psalm 62:8, 11 KJV)

The LORD is my POWER, and song, and he is become my salvation. (Exodus 15:2 NKJV)

Seek the LORD and his POWER, seek his face continually. …

Glory, honor and sparkle are in his presence; POWER and gladness [are] in his place. (1 Chronicles 16: 27 KJV)

The LORD [is] my POWER and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped. (Psalm 28:7 KJV)

The LORD will give POWER to his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11 KJV)

God is our POWER, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1 KJV)

The POWER of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. (Psalm 140:7 KJV)

Strong POWERFUL confidence is in the fear of the LORD. (Proverbs 14:26 KJV)

POWER and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. (Proverbs 31:25 KJV)

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my POWER and [my] song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2 KJV)

ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO HIM in heaven and in earth. He is always with us, so all Power is always with us. Plug into the power source. (Matthew 28:18, 20 KJV)

• ALL POWER…
• Power to resist temptation (Matthew 6:13 KJV)
• Power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: (Mark 3:15 KJV)
• Power in his word. (Luke 4:32 KJV)
• Power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases. To the disciples
• Power to amaze. (Luke 9:1, 43 KJV)
• Power to tread on serpents and scorpions.
• Power over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19 KJV)
• Endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49 KJV)
• Power to become the sons of God to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12 KJV)
• Power received after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you
• Power to be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8 KJV)
• Power of the Holy Ghost fills us with all joy and peace in believing that we may abound in hope (Romans 15:13 KJV)
• Power of God is where our faith should stand, not in the wisdom of men. (1 Corinthians 2:5)
• Power of him is exceedingly great to us-ward who believe. (Ephesians 1:19 KJV)

His divine POWER has given to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him (2 Peter 1:3 NKJV). Everything we need.  GOD HAS NOT given us the spirit of fear.  God has given us a spirit of POWER, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV) Everything we need.

I encourage you, my sisters and brothers to “be strong in the Lord, and in the POWER of his might.”   Know that you are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:10 KJV) You got the power!  Take it.  Arise and Sparkle.

 

by Tammy Phillips
August 31, 2020

I had a dream last night that I met a man in an art class.  The class was in a studio warehouse.  Light flooded the room and the environment was exactly where I wanted to be.  

I love my good looking hunk of a husband, Kris, but I laid eyes on a MAN who was the best looking man I have ever seen.  He was tall and very muscular.  He had dark hair and eyes.  Did I mention He was strong and muscular?  His muscles were bulging through a light colored plaid shirt.  He was sooooo...kind.  He attentively listened and was so present in on our conversation.  His compliments were effortless, but noted, as we chatted with ease.  I was drawn to this MAN.  I did not want to be out of his presence.  He acted like he adored me.  Our exchange was intimate.  Others were in the class, but we were oblivious to them.  However, I know everyone was drawn to him, his charisma and his kindness.  He was nice to everyone.  He smiled ALL the time and you could not help but smile back.  He was contagious.  We laughed without end. Everything he said and did made me smile, inside and out. 

When the class was over, I looked forward to our next meeting.  I exited the building to a group of people hanging around.  The women yelled to me, “That man loves you!” I replied and drew a laugh by saying, “that man could teach me a lot!”  Yes, he had been the teacher of the class. 

We had just met, but I had an unexplainable love for him.  

I awoke from the dream around 3 am and reached out to touch my Kris, and then, I immediately started praying to the One of Love. 

Sometimes, I feel so stupid.  I prayed and sought the Lord about what he wanted me to write for a few hours.  I travelled through scripture.  The Lord brought me back to April 2014 and some thoughts I  had written.  After I read them a couple of times and made a few edits, I was happy that they would be a great enCOURAGEment for today.

It was not until I lovingly fixed and delivered my earthly husband a cup of coffee that  it dawned on me who the man in the dream was…

He was LOVE. 
He was my Love. 
He was the One who gave. 
He was my Jesus.
(I am not saying I saw Jesus.  I am saying in my dreams which are  like movies in my mind.  This wonderful man  was playing the part of Jesus.}

Here is your encouragement for the day…

LOVE GAVE!  LOVE SO AMAZING!

For GOD so loved the world, that he GAVE his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – John 3:16  and…GOD is LOVE… -1 John 4:16

When someone gives you something, what do you do?  You thankfully take it.   God gave us Love.  He gave us Himself in the form of man, Jesus.  Look what love gave us:

• Love listened to the strife of his closest friends at his last supper.
• Love agonized in the garden.
• Love sweat like great drops of blood.
• Love was very heavy and exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death
• Love knew the cup he was to bear.
• Love asked Abba Father that he not have to bear the cup, three times.
• Love said: “The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”
• Love said: “Save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.”
• Love said: “Not my will but my Father’s”
• Love found eleven of his closest friends asleep, three different times in his darkest hour.
• Love was disappointed
• Love was betrayed.
• Love said, “I am He,” and the multitude fell backward to the ground at the sound of his voice.
• Love did not call down instantly 81,000 angels to fight the multitude there to take him to his death.
• Love was bound.
• Love was taken captive by a multitude.
• Love was forsaken by all disciples closest to him in the garden.
• Love was repeatedly spit in the face.
• Love was shamed.
• Love was humiliated.
• Love was insulted.
• Love was punched.
• Love was mocked and made fun of.
• Love was beaten.
• Love was blindfolded.
• Love was slapped and slapped on the face by the multitude.
• Love was reproached, reviled, and blasphemed.
• Love was vehemently falsely accused.
• Love was utterly despised.
• Love was made no account.
• Love was mocked again.
• Love was scourged.
• Love was stripped
• Love was tied in a bending posture to a pillar.
• Love was whipped with leather straps, weighted with sharp pieces of bone, which tore the flesh of his back and front.
• Love was stripped naked in front of about 600 soldiers.
• Love was humiliated.
• Love was robed in a scarlet robe of disgrace.
• Love was shamed.
• Love was crowned with a crown of thorns.
• Love was mocked again.
• Love was spit on again.
• Love said nothing.
• Love was nailed to a cross.
• Love was crucified.
• Love paid for our wrongs that day.
• Love said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
• Love said, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”
• Love said, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
• Love was mocked again by the soldiers at Calvary.
• Love cried with a loud voice, “It is finished.” and gave up the ghost.
• Love said your debt is paid in full.
• Love was buried for three days and nights.
• Love arose as He as he said he would and took the keys of power and death. 

LOVE LOVED US THIS MUCH.   Love gave so that we may be saved and live eternally  and victoriously with Him, today and every day.

LOVE GAVE!   LOVE SO AMAZING!

I enCOURAGE you to meditate on what LOVE GAVE.  There is nothing you have experienced, nor been tempted with that he has not endured himself.  He overcame it all and he has empowered you with the Holy Spirit to do the same. He will love you through each day and all of eternity if you will let him.

by Tammy Phillips
August 30, 2020

For there is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:11 NKJV)

I sat down and interviewed God this morning and what does it mean that there is no partiality with God?  First he gave me the definition of “partiality.”

THAYER SAYS:   Prosōpolēpsia is the Greek word, partiality.   It is a derivative of prosopon, meaning face and lambano meaning, to take, choose, or select. 

ME:  In short, partiality means, God does not choose your face over mine or mine over yours.

Then the Holy Spirit said, “Let’s see what the great men of God in the Bible have to say about partiality.”

Here is what I discovered:

Moses said:
“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality… (Deuteronomy 10:17 NKJV)

Me:     
Moses, you are saying all powerful God is God and He could do whatever He wants and yet show He shows no favoritism?

 Moses also said: 
“You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality…(Deuteronomy 16:19 NKJV)

Me:     
“It a perversion of what is right to be partial.  Ouch!”

Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, said to the judges: 
“Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for [there is] no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.” (2 Chronicles 19:7 NKJV)

Me:     
The judges and governing body was warned, “No partiality!”

Elihu in Job:
“Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands.” (Job 34:19 NKJV)

Me:     
We are the works of God and He loves every one of His creations.  He might not like what we do but he loves us.  

• God does not favor the rich over the poor. 
• God does not favor the skinny over the fat. 
• God does not favor the politician over the voter. 
• God does not favor the black over the white. 
• God does not favor the white over the black. 
• God does not even favor the Georgia Bulldog over the Florida Gator. 
  (Well I am not sure about that one, He might have an exception.)

King Solomon:
“These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.” (Proverbs 24:23 NKJV)

Me: 
“It is wise not to be partial.  God is not partial to Republican not Democrat.”

David Guzik comments on Proverbs 24:23:
“Those like us can be wrong, and those different from us can be right.”

Paul:
“But from those who seemed to be something–whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man–for those who seemed [to be something] added nothing to me.” (Galatians 2:6 NKJV)

Me:     
Although revered in our culture, God is not partial to professional athletes nor actors, either. We are all the same in God’s eyes.  If we choose Him, we are His favorites.  He does not favor one.  He favors all of us.  He does not look at our face and judge us.  He does look at our actions.

I enCOURAGE you to follow our Lord’s footsteps.  Do not show partiality.   And, do not believe in partiality.  As a Christian, believe it or not, God is not more partial to Billy Graham, Priscilla Shirer nor Joyce Meyer, than He is to you.  Remember, you are God’s favorite and we all have kingdom work to do. He might just look at that….

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. (Colossians 3:23-25 NKJV)

by Tammy Phillips
August 29, 2020

“Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”  So, rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. (Joel 2:12-13 NKJV)

As our kids grew up, how many chances did we give them to “get it right?”  Innumerable, right?  With every breath and every new morning, God says, “Give me your whole heart.  I want all of you.” My heart says  that He is pleading for us to turn to Him. 

“As the heart is to the body the mind is to the soul.”-Me

• The “heart” is the central point of the blood and the seat of life, as is the mind in the soul.

“Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

• The “heart “controls the blood flow, the flow of life.

 “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (Deuteronomy 30:6 NKJV)

• The “heart” provides oxygen to every cell in body and soul. The “heart “is seat of senses, affections and emotions.  It is the seat of will and purpose   Intellect and wisdom are also ascribed to the heart.  He wants it all. 

TURN TO ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART

• Turn to Him in what we see, hear, taste, smell, and touch.
• Turn to Him in our faith, love, peace, kindness, goodness, and mercy
• Turn to Him in our fear, hate, chaos, malice, greed, lies, and pride
• Turn to Him in our joy and pain; tears and fears; elation and anger; pride and shame.
• Turn to Him in our hopes and dreams; sickness and health; good times and bad; thoughts and prayers; questions and confusion; beliefs and unbelief; needs and our plenty; confidence and dismay; strength and weakness. 
• Turn to Him our politics and family; marriage and sex; work and free time; diet & exercise, social media and our tongue. 
• Turn to Him in everything we say and everything we do.

TURN WITH FASTING, WEEPING, AND MOURNING.  WHATEVER IT TAKES, TURN. 

REND YOUR HEART
We are to tear and cut a way every evil, lie and deception from our heart.  Our mind is renewed with the word.  Then, Our heart is washed and healed; the broken pieces of our heart are sewn back together better than before.  If what we sense, say, think or do is not leading us to Him, we are told in 1 Corinthians 10:5, to “cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Rend our hearts and we will live the life we are called to. 

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deuteronomy 30 :6

RETURN TO THE LORD YOUR GOD
He is gracious.
He is merciful.
He is slow to anger.
He is of great kindness.
He relents from doing harm.
HE IS A GOOD GOD!

But …

“Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance, (to turn and change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:4-5 NIV)

All He did and does is because He loves us.  He wants our whole heart and in return He gives us His whole life.

I enCOURAGE you reach out your arms to our Father and give it ALL to Him.  

And I will give them a heart to know me, that I [am] the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:7 KJV)

 

 

by Tammy Phillips
August 28, 2020

Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. 2 After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight. 3 Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter [and] former rain to the earth. (Hosea 6:1-3 NKJV)

 Come

• Let’s go
• Let’s walk together
• Let’s go through
• Let’s go over
• Let’s go away
• Let’s vanish
• Let’s flow away
• Let’s live in truth
• Let’s live righteously

Let’s return to the Lord

• Let’s go back to the Lord
• Let’s put it in reverse
• Let’s refresh in the Lord
• Let’s restore with the Lord
• Let’s renew things with the Lord

For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” (Hebrews 12:6 NKJV)

For He has torn us.

• He has torn us to pieces.
• He has plucked us off.
• He has torn us up.
• He has taken out the trash.

BUT He will heal us

• He will mend us.
• He will stitch us back together better than before.
• He will repair us.
• He will make us whole, healed, and complete.

He has stricken.

• He has slapped us to wake us up.
• He has whooped us with His word.
• He has pierces us with His love.
• He has touched our lives

BUT He will bind us up.

• He will wrap us up firmly.
• He will bind our wounds.
• He will bind fast.
• He will tie us back together.

After two days He will REVIVE us;

• He will bring us back to life with Him…and He did at the cross.
• He will refresh us
• He will restore us
• He will be our breath.

On the third day He will RAISE us up,

• He will resurrect us with Him out of the tomb.
• He will stand us up.
• He will establish us.
• He will erect us.

Let us know

• Show us
• Tell us
• Teach us
• Reveal to us

 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. 7 “The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. (Hosea 4:6-7 NKJV)

Let us pursue

• Let us chase down
• Let us follow after
• Let us run after the
• Let us aim eagerly to secure

the knowledge of the LORD.

 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, [And] lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as [for] hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:3-5 NKJV)

His going forth is established as the morning;
He is more faithful than the dawn.
He can be trusted.

He will come to us like the rain,
He will come and pour into us Himself.
He can be trusted.

Like the latter [and] former rain to the earth.
He will come consistently as we seek him.
He is always and He can be trusted.
(Hosea 6:1-3 NKJV)

I enCOURAGE you to come.  Come walk with me and let’s return to the Lord, every morning.  We cannot physically walk together every day, but we can walk in spirt and in faith in hot pursuit of Lord.  Let chase down all He is and know him in every way. Come…

by Tammy Phillips
August 27, 2020

And that they may RECOVER themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:26 KJV)

Kris, my sweet hubby, headed out the garage door for a lunch meeting.  Within minutes he was back in the door asking me, “Have you seen my key?”  I thought, “Uh…oh!”  Kris always knows the location of his key fob. I prayed, “Lord, help us find that key, please and thanks?”  

We searched in all the obvious places and then, all over the house. We looked upstairs, downstairs, under beds, sheets, and sofa cushions. I thanked the Lord for His help as I went. I knew that He knew where the key was, and had it covered.  I even took wet clothes out of the washer. NO KEY!  Kris headed for lunch in my car and I looked a bit longer.

I did not recall where, nor what, Kris had done they day before.  I called him to find out.  He said that he would look when he got home and not to worry about it.  I wasn’t worried; I just wanted to help.  He started retracking his steps.  He told me where he had looked and two more places to look. Then, the answer to prayer came.  Confidently, he told me to check in his coat jacket.  Abnormally, Kris had not worn a suit jacket much in the last six months. This coat was a spring/summer coat.  I doubt that he would have worn it again any time soon and the expensive-to-replace key would have been lost for a while.  But God…it was recovered in the coat pocket. 

What have you lost? Peace? Health? Wealth? The Key? What do you need to recover? 

When we think of the word recover, it brings to mind a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength; to find or regain possession of something stolen or lost; to get back, reclaim, or repossess.  Recovery means returning to the way God intended, whole, healed, and complete in Him.  I love that in 2 Timothy 2:26, recover means return to soberness, your senses and a sound mind.  It means recover yourself. 

David said in Psalm 39:13, “O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.”  In this verse recover means to break off or loose; to desist from grief; to be bright; to shine forth as the dawn; to laugh, to be cheerful; to smile.

God’s plan and will is for us to completely recover! Recover what was lost. Recover our mind. Recover our smile. Recover our beauty. Recover our wellness. Recover the Key, if we have hidden Jesus away from the center of our lives.

Recovery requires aggressive action.  We cannot just sit and hope it happens.  Each person will take different steps and paths to reclaim what was lost or stolen. 

I enCOURAGE you to look at the simple steps we took.   Hopefully, it will help you recover:

1. Realize something is lost or stolen.  
2. Ask for help from those around you and from God! 
3. Take action.  Do everything you can.
4. Recognize that God has had you covered since before you were born. “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13 NKJV)
5. God alone will “deliver you from the snare of the fowler [And] from the perilous pestilence.  He shall cover you with His feathers.” (Psalm 91:3-4 NKJV)
6. Ask and believe God; you will receive and be saved.  You will recover what is lost.  These signs will follow those who believe…In My name, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. (Mark 16:16-18 NKJV)
7. He will show you the steps you need to take towards recovery and find what “your key fob.” 

by Tammy Phillips
August 26, 2020

I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.” (2) I was mute with silence; I held my peace [even] from good; And my sorrow was stirred up. (3)  My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. [Then] I spoke with my tongue: (Psalm 39:1-3 NKJV)

You know why the Psalms are so comforting?   King David was real and relatable.  He would have been a great country music song writer. I am smiling while I write because I cannot help laughing at him.  

In Psalms 37 he delivered the greatest encouragement about not fretting.  Here is my country version: 

“Do not fret because of bad, broken down people. Don’t burn and be red faced with anger because they done wrong.  Chill with Big Daddy; dance and twirl. Don’t fret when people succeed by doing wicked stuff.  Drop it and Stop it…breathing so hard!  Calm down. Fan those flames. Don’t fret. Don’t be hot.  It’s just gonna’ turn out bad.“

The Hebrew word for “don’t fret” is charah.  Sound familiar? Char? It means to be hot, furious, to burn, to glow warm, to blaze up.  David was trying to talk himself down.  Constance Spicer, my sister in Christ and the traveling Bulldawg baseball family, would say it like this: “Breathe in Jesus.  Breath out Satan.” 

Fast forward to Psalms 39 David said:  
I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.

David remembered his prior commitment to stand against sinning with his tongue.  He is talking himself down and here is where I relate.  David said that he was going to put a muzzle on his mouth because that would stop his sin.  I concur.  I have said many times that I am was going to apply duct tape to guard my mouth.  Not on social media? You are smart.  I get a little heated by some of the things I read and out comes the tape because I would like to let loose. I follow David’s, maybe immature, example.  I do not say anything.  It doesn’t mean I am not stirred up and pained.

I was mute with silence; I held my peace [even] from good; And my sorrow was stirred up. (Psalm 39:2 NKJV)

David remembered his commitment to be RESOLUTE, not to “tongue sin” and offend God nor anyone else. “We ought steadfastly to resolve that we will take heed in our ways, and frequently renew that resolution.  Having resolved to take heed in our ways, we must upon all occasions, remind ourselves of that resolution, for it is a covenant never to be forgotten, but that which we must always be mindful of.” -Mathew Henry

David confessed in verse three that he was still hot! He had to let it out.  He had to speak, but the next words out of His mouth were,“Lord, make me know….”  David prayed.  When we allow our “enemies” to stir up our passions, we need to follow his example.  Stop and pray.

“The stronger the temptation to a sin is the stronger the resolution must be against it.”- Matthew Henry

I enCOURAGE you to be watchful and RESOLUTE in the strength of God’s grace.  It will help curtail the “tongue sin.”  If that does not work, put a muzzle on it!  Apply duct tape…again.

Create in me a pure heart, O God! Renew a RESOLUTE spirit within me! – Psalm 51:10 NET