The LORD makes His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; (Numbers 6:25 NKJV)
“Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 13:43 NKJV)
Sunrise and sunset are my favorite times of the day. The sunrise sparkles on the horizon. It proclaims a new day full of the glory of God. Sunset quietly, yet gloriously, declares the day is coming to an end and it is time to rest.
All of our days, we are to praise the name of our Lord. The Hebrew word for praise is halal. It means to:
Shine Be clear Be brilliant Glory Flash forth light
One could say it means to “sparkle”-shine brightly with flashes of light.
I enCOURAGE to shine every day and praise the name of our Lord by simply reflecting His glory right back at Him! 😊
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1 NKJV)
“Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.” (Deuteronomy 28:5 NKJV)
Nanny is the name that I called my grandmothers, Nanny Lowe and Nanny Abney. What a perfect name for each of them. I found that a nanny in the Bible was like a nurse to children. One Hebrew word for nurse/nanny is ‘aman. This word perfectly describes both of my Nanny’s:
To believe in
To be faithful
To carry
To support
To uphold
To build up
To prop up
To bring up
To be established
To be made firm, unshaken
To verify
To foster as a mother
To nourish
They believed in me. They supported me. They nourished my life in so many different ways. I am who I am today because of the loving, unfailing devotion of these two women to God and to me. They gave their lives to God and family. They taught me how to love unconditionally; give without reserve, and how to bless my family. Both of them were superb cook’s and could make a phone book taste good. I am missing them both today, but I am confident that I will see them in heaven some day.
My mouth waters as I fondly remember Thanksgiving dinner at each of their homes. Nanny Lowe made light, fluffy, buttery-crusted, mayonnaise biscuits. I still make them today because they are yummy and super easy. Deuteronomy 28:5, specifically, reminds of Nanny Abney. She had a wooden kneading bowl that I am blessed to have in my home today. (“I am not sure if my Mom or my Aunt Kay know that I have it, but I do.”) I would love to know how many biscuits she made out of that bowl. I might ask God that question one day. (“I mean, we do have eternity.”) Nanny obeyed the voice of the Lord and followed his command to love. Hence, her wooden kneading bowl was blessed and delivered perfect biscuits time after time. Her little pillows of perfectly formed perfection were an expression of her love. She blessed people from her modest kneading bowl, daily. More importantly, she blessed from the kneading bowl of her life. She shared the Love and the Bread of Life, Jesus, with all who crossed her path.
I enCOURAGE each of you to cherish the memories of Thanksgiving’s past and family that are celebrating with Jesus in heaven. Treasure every moment with the family and friends that remain. (Truthfully, I need to work on this one.) Most importantly, bless others from your kneading bowl, freely share the Bread of life and His love with ALL.
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (John 6:35 NKJV)
photo by Stephanie Tharpe, Gallatin, TN, 11/26/2019,
by Tammy Phillips November 25, 2020
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT)
I awoke to the sweetest picture of myself and my Sparkly Sister, and this edifying text:
“You are precious to me!”
This was from the one person I knew I was to encourage for the day. She followed with more inspiration. She sent me a picture of the most glorious pre-dawn sky! She captioned it:
“I think God is giddy that I await his sunrise every morning!
Followed by a song:
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee…I will praise thee forever… I will follow you…my steps are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in my way.” (Psalm 63:1, Psalm 52:9, Psalms 37:23)
She actually sang the song, but these were the scriptures! What a way to start the morning. She beat me to the punch today. She began the day by doing the Word. She was the enCOURAGER today!
I enCOURAGE you to encourage others. A picture, a song, a text, a smile, a phone call, a word of encouragement can change someone’s day. It changed mine. Joy is contagious us. Spread it! Courage is contagious. Spread it!
Be still and know that I am God. (Psalms 46:10 KJV)
Our minds race. Stress knocks on the door. Life comes at us hard, fast and fierce.
It’s hard to be still when we feel like there is so much to do, but God is not asking us if we would like to do it. He says: “Be still.”
What does that mean exactly? The Hebrew word is raphah which means: to sink; relax; fall down; let drop; to be slack.
Praise God he has told us to be slackers! Wait a minute! What does that mean? Slack, according to Websters Dictionary, means to relieve tension; to slow down; the part of a rope that hangs loose; having no stress upon it.
God is speaking my language. Hang loose! Hang loose with me! We know and have confidence that no matter what is going on in life, I AM is still GOD. His promises are true. He had got us and will get us through.
I enCOURAGE you to hang loose, be a slacker and know HE IS GOD!
I love how you can see the sun through in this photo of a monsoon near Etosha National wildlife Reserve in Nambia., May 2019, Photo by Lucas Chambers. Lucas is a local Clarksville photographer. This Photo was published in National Geographic.
November 23, 2020
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39 NKJV)
In Mark 4, Jesus had been preaching from a boat and he told the disciples: “Let’s go to the other side of the lake.” His purpose was to make it to the other side. It was going to happen. However, a mega monsoon like storm arose. Trying to stop them from reaching the reward at the end.
The waves beat up the boat and water jumped in it. Jesus was just chilling, taking a much need nap. Resting in the storm. However, just like we might do in the middle of the storms of life the disciples freaked and woke Him up: “Don’t You care? We are being destroyed!” Isn’t that our first question when the storm comes? “Where are you, Jesus?” Can’t you see him huffing and puffing, bothered that he has been woken? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace. be still.” He spoke to the storm like it was nothing. In fact, after looking at the definition of the words, peace and be still… in the Greek, he really would have sounded less kingly. His words implied: “Hush! Put a muzzle on it!”
I enCOURAGE you to do continue doing the same. Follow his lead. I love when you courageously proclaim: “I will praise and thank Him through the storm!” Just like Jesus, you speak to the storm and stops it in its tracks. You render it ineffective. Just like Jesus, you speak to the wind and it stops. Your faith creates a great calm, perfect peacefulness. And like our brothers, you will make it to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes which means “Reward at the end.” I know you look through the storm and know that Jesus will deliver you to the other side where there is a reward at the end. It is the place where the Son brightly shines and the skies sparkle brilliant blue like a sapphire. And soon, very soon, on the other side, you will see your reward at the end.
On the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (John 7:37 NKJV)
As I sit and listen to the rain trickle down, I am assured the earth will drink it all up because it thirsts. Often, we are painfully thirsty. We seek coffee in the morning to keep our sleepy eyes awake. In the evening others desire a toddy, a pain killer to take away the sufferings of the day.
Jesus stood up and yelled in the middle of the big party, “Come to me if you are thirsty! Come to me and drink!” No Grande caramel macchiato nor jumbo margarita can fill the emptiness caused by the pains of life. Jesus is the only true thirst quencher. He is the only pain reliever we need. Freely, come to Him. He will heal every hurt. He will quench every thirst. Do you hear him yelling for you? The Living Water is waiting on you.
I enCOURAGE you to let him pour you the best drink ever, Himself.
“For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. (56) “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (John 6:55-56 NKJV)
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. (Matthew 26:27 NKJV)
The Lord grew me a lot in His wisdom at Oakmont Ridge, Collierville, TN , 2011
by Tammy Phillips NOVEMBER 21, 2019
LOVE WISDOM. SHE WILL KEEP YOU.
When you walk, when you go, YOUR STEPS WILL NOT BE BOUND OR DISTRESSED.
When you run, You will not stumble. You will not fall down. You will not, totter, nor waver. YOU WILL NOT BE OVERTHROWN.
Take hold of instruction. Seize discipline. Be strong in correction.
DO NOT LET GO! DO NOT BE SLACK! DO NOT BE DISHEARTENED!
Keep her. Guard wisdom. Watch over her. She is your life. Instruction is the key. WISDOM IS…LIFE TO YOU. (Wisdom of Solomon from Proverbs 4)
I enCOURAGE you to chase after the wisdom of God. Do not forsake it. It will preserve you. Build your life on the promises of God. If you have a circumstance and you do not know what to do, get a word from God. Listen to His word and abide in that word. Find at least one of His promises for your situation and do not let go. Get wisdom. It is the first thing you need to experience the abundant life He has created you for!
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NKJV)
Follow the Light. The Light will direct. When we are feeling like Job and questioning:
“Why is light given to him who is in misery? Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden and whom God has hedged in? For my sighing comes before I eat, and my groanings pour out like water. For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3:20, 23-25 NKJV)
It is always darkest before the dawn, when light of the moon is farthest from us. We sometimes are overwhelmed and devastated by the dark periods of life. But God! We know the night will not last and that the glory of the Son will break through the darkness. David says in Psalm 18:28, “For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” He always victoriously overcomes the darkest places in our lives. He in fact enlightens the darkness! Glory to God.
I enCOURAGE you to take hold of the Light! Grab His word and do not let go. Follow the Light! He alone has the ability to walk you out of the dark place into His glorious light.
“And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV)
Over and over in God’s word, He encourages, “do not fear.” When you cannott stand the silence because feel that you are wandering and wondering what you are to do next and where God is in all of it. He is there. He is right where He has always been. He has already gone before you. He is beside you. He is inside of you. He is behind you. He is all around you. He is the air that you breathe. Take His hand. He will help you walk where you think you cannot. He will hold you up. He will help you take the next step no matter how cluttered with obstacles your path may seem. Do not fear. He is with you.
The will of God is for you to walk by faith. The will of Satan is for you to walk in fear. Chew on that one. Where does your faith abide? If you are walking in fear, you ARE fulfilling the plan Satan has for you life. Ouch! You are placing your faith in the enemy, not in God nor His word. Keep confessing all those fears. You will receive exactly what you are believing for.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. HEBREWS 11:6
Walk by faith you will receive the promises of God. He will hold you up. He will help you take the next step no matter how cluttered with obstacles your path may seem. Have faith. Do not fear. He is with you.
I enCOURAGE you to take comfort in the all-encompassing presence of God in your life and do not fear. These are not idle nor empty words. Those three little words, “do not fear,” are words of hope and freedom. Have faith and do not fear. He is with you.
And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God–my God–will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. (1 Chronicles 28:20 NKJV)
Steep stairway, multiple steps and landings at a friends lake house taught me a few things about life. 11/18/19
by Tammy Phillips November 18, 2020
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. (Psalm 37:23 NKJV)
Take one step at a time. I know on this journey you may not see the way clearly but take one step at a time. God will be your Newel Post, the anchor of the stairway, a support that helps bear the weight of the rest of the way. A newel is always found at the foot of a flight of stairs and at the top of the stairway. A newel is placed at every juncture where the stairway changes directions. God is your Newel post providing support and bearing the way at the beginning, the end and at every turn along the stairway.
As you begin to climb, God will bring you to a landing that will provide you time for healing, rest, and restoration. He will bring you to a landing place to guide you around the obstacles of life. The landing will provide you direction and next steps. Trust Him. He says in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8 NKJV) He will help you rise and tread. Rise and tread. Before you know it, you will have risen and completed a run to the next landing.
I enCOURAGE you to keep taking one step at a time. God will be with you every step of the way. Take time to heal in your own way. Grieve in your own way. Healing is a journey and a climb. Take one day at a time. Take one breathe at a time. Take one step at a time.
Complete in Him 