Complete in Him

by Tammy Phillips
February 2, 2021

I have come to realize that our Heavenly Father does not mind big asks nor little ones.  We can seek Him about anything because, as this verse explains, He wears the name of every good thing.  He is  infinitely good so it would be impossible to name every good name, but this verse gives us a great sampling of His greatness and His covering.

Thus, saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD [is] his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou know not. (Jeremiah 33:2-3 KJV)

LOOK closer at what these verses are saying:

Thus, says the LORD who made it.  The Lord is:

• The Maker
• The Creator
• The Doer
• The Worker 

The LORD who formed it…

• The Former
• The Framer
• The Fashioner
• The Squeeze-Into-Shaper

The LORD who established it…

• The Establisher
• The Decision Maker
• The Resolution Former
• The Stand-Up Righter
• The Straightener
• The Accomplisher
• The Appointer
• The Arranger
• The Producer
• The Planner
• The Perfector
• The Preparer
• The Provider
• The Erector
• The Furnisher
• The Fastner
• The Firmer
• The Fixer
• The Fitter
• The Stabilizer
• The Restorer
• The Renewer
• The Rebuilder
• The Founder

THE LORD IS HIS NAME!

Call to Me…

• CALL ME! (This Word Has The Idea Of Accosting A Person)
• Cry Out
• Call My Name
• Call To Oneself
• Utter A Loud Sound
• Summon
• Invite

I will answer you…

• I WILL ANSWER!
• Eye you
• Heed you
• Hear you
• Speak to you
• Sing to you
• Pay attention to you
• Respond to you

I will show you…

• I WILL “SHOW AND TELL” YOU
• Be in front of you
• Be in your sight
• Plainly profess to you
• Declare to you
• Make known to you
• Expound to you
• Message you
• Report to you

…great and mighty things

• Hidden things
• Secret things
• Restrained things 
• Fenced in things
• Enclosed things
• Inaccessible things
• Mysterious things

which you do not know.  

Can you see it?  Do you hear Him?  His NAME is ALL THINGS good.   We can call Him for ANYTHING because He is EVERYTHING.

I encourage you to meditate on the enormity of God.  As immense as His character is, His love for you is equal.  Know that you can call on Him for ANYTHING because HE IS EVERYTHING.  And… He loves us that big! 

by Tammy Phillips
February 1, 2021

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. (Romans 8:28 NKJV)

I have run from this verse.  I have avoided using this verse in encouragements.   How could I confidently tell my sister who lost her son too early, ‘we know all things work together for good to them that love God and who are called according to his purpose.’  How could I be so bold as to include Brandon’s passing into “all things?” 

In retrospect, it is easy to quote Romans 8:28 when we see bad situations turn better.  It is easy for me to say it about my sons.  I have seen God take really bad circumstances and turn them into really good things in their lives.  This is never an easy verse to quote in reference to the loss of a child.  However, by faith in almighty God, my sister, quoted it to me.  Although, it is hard to say and see, by faith in our Daddy, I believe and have seen the truth in this verse.  

When my sister texted Romans 8:28 to me, the Holy Spirit had already told me to use it in a devotion.  It was not my choice at all, but then sister Sparkle texted: “Let’s go get our bible verse tattoo. Have you heard the lyric from Chris Lane’s country song, ‘What’s your wrist tattoo bible verse say?”’  She inferred that, by getting a tattoo, she would want to keep this verse before her eyes at all times!  She is strong in faith.  She told me, through faith in God, Brandon is alive and has moved to a better place.  She has said that she is at peace because she knows Brandon is at peace. 

Through unimaginable pain, she has faithfully lived out this verse before my eyes.  Her words and actions have enCOURAGED me to have faith and “…know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

I enCOURAGE you to be resolute in your faith in our God.  Believe His word is true and that all things really do work together for good to them that love God.  My sister Sparkle, her faith in God’s word, and her faithful testimony will change the lives and future of others.  I cannot wait to see her crown in glory!  Know God will take what the enemy meant for evil and destruction and use it for His good and His glory. 

by  Tammy Phillips
January 31, 2021

And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. (1 Samuel 2:1 NKJV) 

Hannah had been bullied and tortured because she had not produced an offspring. She asked God for a child:

“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him. Therefore, I have given him to the Lord as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord. And they worshiped the Lord there.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28 AMP

She in return gave the child to the service of the Lord. 1 Samuel 2:1-2 is her prayer of thanksgiving after leaving her baby at the temple. She was so happy to have had the child for just a very few years.  I cannot imagine praying this prayer after leaving my baby at the altar.  She was just ecstatic that God had been faithful.

When Hannah said that her heart rejoiced the in the Lord, she was really saying, my heart jumps for joy in the Lord.  Think about when your favorite team scores or when your child hits a home run. Elation! This is the joy Hannah was talking about.  I can see her jumping around, praising God, and saying, “I am strong in the Lord!” I see her laughing out loud…again pure elation… “Enemy you got nothing on me. I laugh in your face! God has saved me.”  She was having a praise party with her Father.  She was not concentrating on what she had given up nor what she had been given.  She was praising and appreciating the Giver.

When the enemy is telling you, “No!” and God says, “Yes,” I enCOURAGE you to smile over and in the face of the enemy.

When the enemy yells, that ou are not good enough.  Our Father loudly says that you are the righteousness of Christ.  I enCOURAGE you to smile in the face of the enemy.

When the enemy says to sit in sadness and depression. Our Father exclaims, “Choose joy.” I enCOURAGE you to laugh in the face of the enemy.

When the enemy says that you are a loser.  Our Deliverer says that you are more than a conqueror and you are an overcomer.  I enCOURAGE you to smile over your enemy.

 

by Tammy Phillips
January 30, 2021

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?

by Tammy Phillips
January 29, 2021

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. 

Love You…Tammy

by Tammy Phillips
January 28, 2021

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.

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:

1. • 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!

by Tammy Phillips
January 26, 2020

 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!

Inspired by Kenneth Hagin…

by Tammy Phillips
January 25, 2021

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!

 

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.