Complete in Him

by Tammy Phillips
November 15, 2020

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
THE EVERLASTING GOD, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40:28 NKJV)

There is a quote: “Nothing lasts forever.”  It is a lie.  Our God is forever.  He is ever.  He is everlasting, evermore and perpetual.  He is the beginning and the end; He is the First and the Last.  He is from along time ago.  He is now and He will always be.  He is the Ancient of Days. He is eternity.  

God is not a television show that can nor will be cancelled.  God is eternal.  During prayer this week, I heard deep in my spirit:  “I AM GOD.  I WILL NOT BE CANCELLED.”

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)

The thief attempts to cancel God.  Why do you think the enemy is trying to remove His name and word from our great country?     

Be clear!  Satan came to cancel you and me.  His mission is  to bring us to nothingness, annul, invalidate, abolish, put an end to, to deface, to invalidate for reuse, to mark us and strike us out for deletion, and to render us useless by  destroying our life force and effectiveness.  He would  love to silence us, and Not happening. 

Here is the good news!

• God is not cancelled
• Hope is not cancelled.
• Deliverance is not cancelled.
• Healing is not cancelled.
• Salvation is not cancelled.
• Righteous is not cancelled.
• Truth is not cancelled.
• The word of God is not cancelled.
• As children of God, you and I are not cancelled.

 “But despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out, for I am the LORD their God. (Leviticus 26:44 NLT).

This also applies to Christians under the New Covenant. God will always be faithful to the covenant, for the sake of the covenant we have with God through Jesus.

 “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.  For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So, you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”  (Colossians 2:8-10 NLT)

Christ is the Ruler of all.  We are complete in Him and cannot be cancelled.   We were created to live eternally with God and then sin entered into the world and attempted to cancel that plan.  BUT GOD…had a better plan to buy us back. 

“He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross”. (Colossians 2:14-15 NLT)

Cancel is the Greek word exaleiphō which means blotted out; wiped away; washed in every part; whitewashed; obliterated; erased; deleted.  

We are not cancelled and never will be as children of the Most- High EVERLASTING GOD who follow Him and are obedient to His word.  We are the opposite of cancelled.  Meditate on each of the following words.  We are approved, established, upheld, continued, authorized, supported, called, strengthened, mended, favorited, elected, preserved, chosen, endorsed, verified, enlarged and written in the Lamb’s book of Life.

We should always follow God’s word and  strive not to be like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day.  Jesus said of them:   ” And so, you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. (7) You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, (8) ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (9) Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'” (Matthew 15:6-9 NLT)

I enCOURAGE you to receive the cancellation of your sins by Jesus.  Do not allow anyone else to cancel you nor silence your God given voice.  When you follow the LORD God, the Everlasting Father, you can rest assured that God will never be cancelled, nor will He allow you to be.  Stand and courageously proclaim  His Truth.  Hallelujah!

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)

by Tammy Phillips
November 14, 2020 

David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV)

My husband, Kris does not love the morning hours, but I love watching him in the morning, prepare for the day.  He  speaks encouraging words to himself.  He gives strengthens himself with a pep talk most days.  He cracks me up and this may be too much information.  When he enters the shower, he continues his encouraging routine and  lifts up his spirits by turning up the music.  He encourages himself. 

In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men were coming back home.  The return had been a long, three-day journey. They were probably tired and hungry. They may have been a little discouraged because the Philistines would not let them join the battle.  How good does it feel when you have been on a trip and you turn the corner to home?  When they came to Ziklag, their city, they found it burned, empty and plundered by the Amalekites.  All their women and children were missing. David’s two wives were gone.  It looked like everything was lost.  Ever been in that kind of situation where you have lost all hope? 

They wept until they had no strength to weep no more. Have you cried to the point that you felt like you had no more tears to cry? 

David was greatly distressed and discouraged.  He was in the squeeze.  His wives were missing.  His men were very upset with him. They were so grieved in their loss that talked about stoning him.  Have you ever felt that alone and been that low and discouraged?  Have lost hope?

David was at his lowest, BUT he encouraged himself in the Lord.

He did not lay down to the loss.  He did not wait for someone else to strengthen him. He reached out and took the strength of God that raised Jesus from the grave.  The LORD was his strength, all he had at the time and all he needed.  The LORD’s strength was there for him the whole time, but he had to take it.  This was the courage of God making itself real in the heart of a broken, hurting, discouraged man. This was strength to rise. It was strength to fight.  It was strength to take back what the enemy had stolen.  It was strength to conquer. 

Are you low? Are you discouraged?  Are you at the end of your ropes?  Encourage yourself in the LORD your God. He does not play favorites.  As his kids, we are all his favorites.  He will strengthen you like he did David.

David went to the Lord and asked if he should pursue the enemy and if he would overtake them.  The LORD told him to pursue and the he would overtake and recover all. The Lord gave him an action plan and a promise.

Have you sincerely gone to the Lord and asked him what to do about your specific situation? Have you waited for an answer?  Do you believe what Holy Spirit spoke to you?

David encouraged himself.  Encourage yourself.  Remember, God’s great love for you.  Remember, God’s promise and call on your life. Remember, God’s past deliverances in your life.    David did.  He went armed and strengthened with the encouragement of the Lord into battle.  David went to battle from dawn until evening of the next day. He recovered all that was lost as promised and more.  

I enCOURAGE you to strengthen and encourage yourself in the Lord.  Besides, God, you are your greatest ally and you can be your own worst enemy. Go to battle to recover what the enemy has stolen from you. The Lord goes before you and it is his battle.  He will help you recover all you have lost and more.

I encourage you that before you get out of bed and your feet touch the floor to meditate which means murmur. Encourage yourself and say:  “I am brave.  I am strong. I am courageous. I will not be shaken.  I am healed, whole and complete. I am a conqueror. I am an overcomer.  God, you are my God.  You are the same yesterday and forever.  I will recover what the enemy has stolen and more. I can do nothing without you and all things with you. I will stand. I will be #resolute2020.”

 

by Tammy Phillips
November 13, 2020

“After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.   But now I urge you to keep up your courage…(Acts 27:21-22 NIV)

Although the storm rages and we ask the Lord how He can sleep through it, he has already told us, just like he told the disciples in Mark 4:35-41, “Let us cross to the other side.”  He is with us in the middle of the storm.  He has not left nor forsaken us.  He said, “Let’s go to the other side,” that is what he meant and that is what they did. He did it for the disciples. He did it for our forefathers and he will do it for us.

• He took Noah to and through the other side of the biggest flood ever.
• He took Moses and Israel to and through to the other side of the Red Sea.
• He took Joshua and the Israelites to and through to the other side of the Jordan into the promised land.
• He took Abraham from the other side of the River, led him through Canaan, multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac  
• He took David to and through the other side of Goliath.
• He took Jesus to and through the cross for you…and me.

KEEP UP YOUR COURAGE! 

He took Paul to and through many times.  Here is one account.  In Acts 27:10 Paul said, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”  The majority disagreed and they sailed anyways.  They got caught in a big, bad windstorm for days. The storm beat them up and they lost all hope that they would be saved.

“After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.   But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. (Acts 27:21-22 NIV)

• You should have not dated that person and you would have not got your heart broken.
• You should have not over eaten or drunk too much and you would have not felt so bad.
• You should have been a better parent and then your child would have turned out differently.
• You should have been more careful, and you would have not…

“Should have…would have’s” in our lives are usually spoken by the enemy to bring on regret and shame.  God will not leave us in the middle of the “shoulda-woulda.”   Paul was sent and angel of God who essentially told him, “Do not be afraid. You have to go through this. You will be saved. You will make it to the other side of this storm.”   When we are caught in the storm that is tearing us apart, the Lord will come to us or send us a word of encouragement. He even comes to us in the middle of the storm that he warned us not to go into.  When we get caught in the middle of something and see no way out, hear the words of Paul, “I urge you to keep up your courage.”  Further…

“KEEP UP YOUR COURAGE, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me!” (Acts 27:25)

Keep up your courage in this instance means:

• Be a good cheer.
• Be of good courage.
• Take heart.
• Take courage.
• Cheer up.

Why?  We have faith in God that it will happen just as he promised.  If God said it, we believe it and we will make it to the other side.

I enCOURAGE you to leave the “shoulda…woulda’s” in the past.  You cannot change them.  You can change your future.   Have faith in God to take you to the other side Trust Him.  Be brave.  Keep up your courage. 

by Tammy Phillips
November 12, 2020

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13 NIV)

We are to encourage one another to avoid becoming hardened by sin in which we believe the lie and not God.  The lie is that we should fear anything. We have nothing to fear. Listen, we have nothing to fear. Repeatedly, the word of God says be strong and be of good courage and more often it says do not fear nor be dismayed.  Dismayed also means discouraged, broken to pieces, torn apart and broken down with fear.

 Be strong (chazaq) and of good courage (‘amats) ; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God [is] with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NKJV)

 Be of good courage (chazaq), and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31:24 KJV)

In the Bible, two different Hebrew words are used for courage and they are loaded:

‘amats:  strong; brave; bold; made firm; be alert; quick on the feet; be strong in the feet; steadfast mind; restored; repaired; built up

chazaq: strong; bind strongly, hold fast; stick fast; encourage; to strengthen one’s hand; to restore, rebuild, repair; be firm, be constant, be #resolute2020! 

Joshua 1:9 could literally be translated: 

Be strong! Be strong!  Be of good courage! Be of good courage!  Do not be afraid nor broken down with fear!  Do not be shaken! Don’t be discouraged!

I lived a huge chunk of my life fearing everything until God enCOURAGED me in His word.  He taught me I did not have to fear anything, but Him.  This is why God called me to be an enCOURAGER.  He set me free from fear.  It is the reason He calls us to “encourage one another and build each other up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV) We are to strengthen others with God’s words and not tear them down with our own.  In the New Testament the Greek word for encourage is parakaleō which means:  to call to one’s side; to speak to; to comfort; to console; to exhort; to urge on; to strengthen; to teach; to instruct; to refresh; to cheer.

Websters 1828 definition of COURAGE, noun [Latin, the heart.] Bravery; that quality of mind which enables men to endure danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; boldness; resolution.

The Greek word and prefix “en” means:  a fixed position; to cause to be in the place, condition or state named; to be surrounded, covered with.  As we en-courage, we move others from a place of disCOURAGEment to a place and a fixed position IN COURAGE. We can encourage just by standing beside someone, calling or texting them a good word.

God is our EnCOURAGER and our Comforter. He encourages us in our discouragement so we can encourage others who are in trouble and pain. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions, and God of all encouragement;  who encourages us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to encourage those who are in any tribulation whatever, through the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged of God. Because, even as the sufferings of the Christ abound towards us, so through the Christ does our encouragement also abound. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 DBY)

Throughout the New Testament God sent the disciples to encourage others.  God used an enCOURAGER to get it started. The gospel was spread by sending out Paul and Barnabas, whose name means Son of Encouragement.

But God, Who comforts and encourages and refreshes and cheers the depressed and the sinking, comforted and encouraged and refreshed and cheered us by the arrival of Titus. (2 Corinthians 7:6 AMPC)

JOHN exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. (Luke 3:18)

 BARNABAS encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. (Acts 11:23)

PAUL AFTER BEING STONED:  “strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,”  (Acts 14:22)

JUDAS and SILAS said a lot to encourage and strengthen the believers. (Acts 15:32)

After PAUL and SILAS got out of the prison they immediately went and encourage their brothers and sisters (Acts 16:40)

TIMOTHY  was sent to strengthen and encourage in faith. (1 Thessalonians 3:2)

PAUL SENT TYCHIUS for the express purpose of encouraging hearts. (Colossians 4:8)

I enCOURAGE you to encourage the disheartened. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 NIV). I “encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God ​– ​as you are doing ​– ​do this even more.”   (1 Thessalonians 4:1 CSB)

I pray that “your hearts may be encouraged and comforted.” (Colossians 2:2)    “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, (Romans 15:5 NIV).  “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NIV)

Be enCOURAGED and go, be an enCOURAGER!

by Tammy Phillips
November 11, 2020

I spent a couple of hours this morning working on what I thought was todays encouragement, BUT GOD…. had a different plan.  Holy Spirit took me back to November 11, 2019 to my journal entry:

“Wow! I hear you God! I have no choice. Help me rise. Rise above! Help me take the next steps. And, show me why I keep writing 11. 11. 19, too, please?

My plans were to start Christmas decorations, BUT GOD…had a different plan.

My friend, pray warrior, battle buddy sent me a link to a sermon series, CRAZY FAITH by Michael Todd.  He started the sermon by quoting the third verse from the song, Crazy by Selo Green:

‘My heroes had the heart to live their lives out on the limb. All I remember thinking is I want to be like them.’

The sermon continued, ‘What you wrote in your journal maybe crazy until it happens!’

Without a doubt, I knew that morning that I had been called to CRAZY FAITH.  I had no idea what that meant; I know now.  Looking back, it only took until the afternoon of 11.11.19 for me to receive my first assignment in crazy faith.  I also understand why 11.11.19 would be a day that would forever change my life.  At 3:51 pm I received a text from my sister in Christ, Stephanie Tharpe:  “Our hearts are hurting… Our son, Brandon, died yesterday. Please pray for us.”  We had just talked about Brandon two days earlier.  This could not possibly be true.  Brandon was 27.  I had no words.  I felt like I never had the right words in these circumstances.

Then, the Holy Spirit spoke the unimaginable and called me to crazy faith.  I was instructed to enCOURAGE Stephanie every morning by keeping the word of God before her for one year.  I thought God was crazy!  I hate offering empty words to family members who have lost loved ones.  The words seem pointless and ineffective. However, I learned that no word said in love is purposeless.  I had to change my thinking.  I had to step out into crazy faith and trust God each day for the words.  11.11.19, God showed me how he would fulfill two calls on my life, the call to write and the call to be an encourager. 

Holy Spirit showed me that in one year an encouragement book would be completed through encouragements to Steph.  It would be His words not mine. I had to trust Father God and His leading.  I sure did not have the words.  I surrendered on 11.11.19, “I will be your scribe, Father.”

Looking back at my journal, I had surrendered on June 14, 2019 to be an enCOURAGER.  This is the entry from that day and subsequent days:

“I am enCOURAGER!  Hebrews 3:13

Father:   Send me to be an enCOURAGER by your spirit …when needed.  Help me be full of courage to give away to others. Amen.    

Stir yourself up. Step out. Show up.  The words you say may be the exact words from the Lord that someone else needs.”

June 16, 2019:

“’Be strong.  Be courageous. Be brave and do it. Fear not. Do not be dismayed. Do not be broken to pieces. For the Lord your God, my God is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you Until you have finished all the work for the service of the House of the Lord.’ -1 Chronicles 28:20  

Last night, Kris and I attended the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame induction Dinner for Peyton Manning and a list of others.  Amy Adams Strunk was named Tennessean of the year.  A lot of famous people made a lot of speeches, however, the one that spoke to me was by an unnamed woman who prayed before dinner.  She prayed: 

‘There are so many gifts to be thankful for, including the gift of athleticism, mentoring, teaching, and those who encourage….Let us all remember to recognize our gift and use it in a way that honors you, Lord even if that gift is only to encourage others.’

I hear you Lord!  I am an enCOURAGER.”

On June 24, 2019:

“Dear Tammy,

You are not weak.  You are not defeated. You are not inferior. You are full of “can do” power. The very same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of you. Expect My favor. I have equipped and anointed you.  Walk in My favor and victory.  

Holy Spirit

‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’  Mark 9: 23

‘I can do everything through Christ who gives me the strength.’ Philippians 4:13

‘Like a rubber band, your faith is useless unless it is stretched. God will require you to stretch be pulled and in discomfort.  In this stretch God does the greatest miracles. Faith extended to fulfill its purpose is willing to stretch. God shows up and does what we cannot do.  Be bold be brave.  Be courageous.  You were made to be stretched. Whatever he tells you to do, do it!’( John 15:5)   It will require the stretch.  Stretch for success.’

‘You do know what you are capable of because you cannot fathom the potential of God in you.’ -Tammy Phillips”

One year has come and gone.  God walked with me through every step of the crazy faith He called me to.  Each morning, I sent my sister an encouragement from the word.  In March with her permission, I stepped out to be an enCOURAGER to anyone who would read my posts online.

The Lord says that He will instruct you and teach you in the way to go in Psalms 32:8.  He prepared me months before hand to accomplish His will.  I give all glory to Him.  

Now, “I urge and encourage you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1 NIV)

I enCOURAGE you to seek and answer God’s call.  He is calling you to step out in crazy faith, too.  I have been stretched more than I ever wanted to be stretched.  It has been hard and painful.  However, it is nothing in comparison to the crazy faith that God called Stephanie to in the loss of her son.  Pray for her and her husband as often as you think of her.  Answer His call!

‘What you wrote in your journal maybe crazy until it happens!’

 

by Tammy Phillips
November 10, 2020

This I recall to my mind therefore I have hope.
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
because His compassions fail not.
HIS MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING
Great is Your faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and
wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
(Lamentations 3:21-26 NKJV)

God was merciful when he gifted you your precious child.  Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. (Psalm 127:3 NLT)

God’s mercies are new every morning.  One morning, we will wake up.  It will be a normal day at first, if there is  even  such a thing as a normal day anymore.   In the blink of an eye, whether we are caught-away or pass in death, we will end the day in the presence of Jesus.  We will see our loved ones again!   You will see your precious Brandon on that day.  It will be the most the merciful day that we ever experience!!!  It is our hope.  It is good to hope in His mercy.   Jesus is our hope, promise and expectation for that blessed day. 

Until then, we will wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord and eagerly expect His new mercies every morning.

Every step taken; all the paths of the LORD are mercy. (Psalm 25:10 KJV)

Trust in the LORD and His mercy shall compass you. (Psalm 32:10 NKJV)

His mercy is on them that fear him. (Luke 1:50 KJV)

God is rich in mercy and because of His great love, He loved us. (Ephesians 2:4 NKJV)

Not our works of righteousness, but according to His mercy He saved us… (Titus 3:5 NKJV)

The eye of the LORD is on those who hope in his mercy. (Psalm 33:18

God is our defense, Our God of mercy. (Psalm 59:17

God is abundant in mercy to all those who call upon Him. (Psalm 86:5

God’s mercy will hold you up. (Psalm 94:18)

God is plenteous in mercy. (Psalm 103:8)

God’s mercy is great, as the high as heaven is above the earth (Psalm 103:11)

The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him (Psalm 103:17)

 The LORD takes pleasure in them that hope in his mercy. (Psalm 147:11 KJV)

God delights in mercy. (Micah 7:18 KJV)

God’s mercy preserves.  (Proverbs 20:28 KJV)

God is faithful who keeps mercy for a thousand generations (Deuteronomy 7:9 NKJV)

Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:11 KJV)

Job endured and you endure.  Job saw the end of the Lord.  You will see the Lord’s end.  Job was held up and sustained by the mercy and compassion of God.   You are held up by God’s mercy, love and compassion.   Job endured and was a better and more blessed man.  You have remained faithful to God.  You have endured and I know God will use what the enemy stole from you, what the enemy meant for evil towards you and God will use it for good.

“I wish we could all read the original Greek; for this word, ‘The Lord is very pitiful,’ is a specially remarkable one. It means literally that the Lord hath ‘many bowels,’ or a great heart, and so it indicates great tenderness.” -Charles Spurgeon

I enCOURAGE you queen to trust in the LORD and through the mercy of the Most High, you shall not be moved (Psalm 21:7 KJV).  He has showed us what is good; and what the LORD requires: to do right, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God (Micah 6:8 KJV).  May our prayer be: “Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You (Psalm 33:22 NKJV).  And we will “give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34 KJV)

 

by Tammy Phillips 
November 9, 2020

Life can be overwhelming, even impossible sometimes.  God is the God of impossibilities, all the time and every time.  It is His specialty.  No circumstance nor situation is impossible for our God, not even our tomorrow.   

And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, (2 Corinthians 3:4-5 NKJV)

We are not SUFFICIENT.
We have not ARRIVED.
We are not ENOUGH.
We are not GOOD ENOUGH.
We are not GREAT ENOUGH.
We are not LARGE ENOUGH.
We are not WORTHY ENOUGH.
We are not COMPETENT ENOUGH.
We are not ABLE ENOUGH.
We are not QUALIFIED ENOUGH.

…to do one thing on our own…

We cannot do it.  We cannot do and survive life without God.

BUT GOD!!!!  Our sufficiency is from God!

He gives us the ability, competency and qualifies us to do all things through Him!

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)

God’s grace, His unmerited favor is enough to get us through the crazy year we have called 2020 and the next and the next and until Jesus comes.  His grace is enough to help us get out of bed and take one step at a time.  Keep stepping! Walk by faith.  His grace alone is enough is enough to make us stronger.  The Word says, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  We got the weakness!  He has the strength!  We have to count on His strength every day for every step.

The LORD is our sufficiency.
God is ALL SUFFICIENT.

The LORD is our completion.
God is already there.  He has arrived.
And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:10 NKJV)

The LORD is our MORE THAN ENOUGH.
God is El Shaddai, All Sufficient One. God Almighty!  (Genesis 17:1)

The LORD is our GOOD ENOUGH.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. (Psalm 33:5)

The Lord is our GREAT ENOUGH.
God is greater than all gods. (2 Chronicles 2:5)
God is greater than man.  (Job 33:12)
God is greater than our biggest challenge.

The LORD is our BIG ENOUGH.
God is everywhere. (Psalm 139:7-12)

The LORD is our WORTHY ENOUGH.
You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power.(Revelation 4:11 NKJV)

The LORD is our COMPETENT ENOUGH.
For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created. (Revelation 4:11 NKJV)

The LORD is our ABLE ENOUGH.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV)

The LORD is our QUALIFICATION.
Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:12 NIV )

I enCOURAGE you in our all sufficient God.  He is more than enough to meet every need, overcome every obstacle and love you through every impossibility.  Let Him be your Enough in everything, even your tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

by Tammy Phillips
November 8, 2020

Do you know that our life reads like another book or letter of the Bible?  The apostles wrote letters to record what the Spirit of God told them.  They wrote with pen and ink.  As Christians, followers of Christ…

We are a letter from Christ.
Ministered by the words of the apostles.
Ministered by those who sow into our lives.
Our letter is written by the Spirit of the Living God.
Our letter is written on the tables of our heart,
Engraved in our heart by the finger of God.

Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is of the heart. (2 Corinthians 3:3 NKJV)

Jesus authors our letter.

 Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Hebrews 12:2

The LORD gives us one heart, His Heart.
The LORD gives us one spirit, His Spirit.
The LORD removes our stony heart.
The LORD gives us a soft heart.

“Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, (Ezekiel 11:19 NKJV)

 The LORD gives a fresh, new heart and mind.
The LORD gives a new breath, new wind, and new spirit.
The LORD takes away the hard, stony, stubborn and unresponsive heart.  
The LORD gives us a soft, tender, obedient, and responsive heart.

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you and heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26 KJV)

He puts his commands in our mind.
He writes them on our heart.
He is our God.
We are His people.

“But this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Jeremiah 31:33 NKJV)

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, hope, redemption, righteousness, reconciled are words we may see written in our letters.  Really, our letter could be written in one word, LOVE.  Love is synonymous with God.  Love covers it all.

Our letter is also recorded in His book.

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16 NLT) 

I enCOURAGE you to take pause and seriously consider the contents of your letter, your life.  What is your life ministering to others?  The Spirit of God has written love on your heart.  Have you let His love out for all to see?  Thank God there is no condemnation and no shame written in our letter, just love. Let your letter read boldly and loudly for Jesus.

by  Tammy Phillips with the help of King David
November 7, 2020

Show us Your mercy, LORD, And grant us Your salvation. (Psalm 85:7 NKJV)

Psalms 86 is a prayer of King David.  I have been led to it several times of late.  It is my prayer for you and me.  It is my prayer for the children of God in 2020.

LORD, stretch out Your ear to us.
LORD, hear us.
LORD, answer us.
LORD, we are distressed and in need.

LORD, preserve, guard, keep our soul and life.
LORD, we are faithful.
LORD, You alone are our God.
LORD, save us who trust You.

LORD, be merciful and gracious.
LORD, show us your favor.
LORD, show us your mercy.
LORD, we call You all day long.

LORD, make us rejoice.
LORD, we put our trust in You alone.

LORD, You are good!
LORD, You are ready to forgive.
LORD, You are abundant in mercy to all who call.

LORD, listen, please.
LORD, pay attention to our call for mercy.
LORD in trouble we call.
LORD, we know you will answer.

LORD, there is none like you.
LORD, there are no works like your works.
LORD, all nations will worship you.
LORD, all nations will glorify your name.

LORD You are great.
LORD You do wondrous things.
LORD, You alone are God.

LORD, Teach us your ways.
LORD, Teach us to walk in Your truth.
LORD, Unite our heart to fear you name alone.

LORD, we praise You with all our heart.
LORD, we glorify Your name forevermore.

LORD, Great is Your mercy toward us.
LORD, You have delivered our soul from the pits of hell.
LORD, You have shown us your mercy and we ask again.

LORD, the proud and arrogant have risen against us.
LORD, a swarm of violent, oppressive, ruthless men have sought our lives.
LORD, they have not set, nor appointed You before them.

LORD, You are a God full of compassion.
LORD, You are gracious.
LORD you are long suffering.
LORD, you are abundant in mercy and truth.

LORD, turn to us
LORD, have mercy on us.
LORD, show us your mercy.
LORD, give Your strength to Your servants.
LORD, save Your servants.

LORD, You have helped us
LORD, You have comforted us.  

I enCOURAGE you to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. “(Hebrews 4:16 KJV)

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.  For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.  Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. (Psalm 33:18-22 NKJV)

 

 

 

by Tammy Phillips
November 6, 2020

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. (Psalm 32:8, 10 NKJV) 

True Story from a few years ago. 

I had cleaned our bedroom and noticed my driver’s license lying on the floor.  I had emptied some things out of my bag at an earlier time and I guess my driver’s license had just fallen out of my wallet.  I picked it up and that is the last I remembered of the Little 2 x 4 piece of plastic that I would need as identification.

Later in the week, Kris and I went to vote.  I knew exactly where my voter’s registration card was located and found it immediately.  When I went to retrieve my license that I thought I had returned to my wallet, it was nowhere to be found.  In the past I would have gotten mad at the inconvenience, called myself stupid more than once and definitely lost my joy.  I determined not to allow anything or anyone to steal my joy.

Kris voted.  I could not.  I went home and talked to God.  I prayed: “Lord, You know where my license is located. Will You please show it to me?”  I, emphasis on I, looked several places for it.  I just knew it would be an easy find, not so.  I kept confessing: “I know You know where that license is. I’d really like to vote today.”  I finally said. “When You bring a place to mind, I will go look.”

I spent time reading my Bible and just waited.  I completed a few chores, faithfully waited and looked as directed.  I spoke with a friend and shared my story.  She knew that I was world- famous for misplacing and finding things with God’s help.   Once, I had misplaced a Pandora bracelet in December and faithfully believed God to help me find it.  I did not stop believing.  He led me to it the next March!

God is big!  His word says in 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” and, Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Looking at the Greek translation of the word moved.  I confidently confessed its meanings:

I will not be moved.
I will not be shaken.
I will not totter.
I will not slip.
I will not waver.
I will not move aside from the right.
I will find my license with Your help.

I knew that I knew, God had me.   All I had to do was believe and trust that He is who He says he is and that He would do what he said He would do.

Five hours after arriving home from the polls, I put some clothes in the dryer and I heard, “Look in the car.”  I kind of offered up some resistance, “BUT GOD… I’ve already looked there and everywhere else!”  Then I conceded, “BUT GOD, I know you know where it is, so I will go look again.”  I did and there it was!  God was faithful!  God is faithful.  God will always be faithful.

Praise God!  If I had not misplaced my license, I would not have gotten to share this whole story of how God’s faithfulness, grace and mercy surrounded me.  I returned and  voted.  Four little ladies who worked were so glad to see me.  I loudly shared my God story with them, proclaiming the greatness and faithfulness of my Jesus!!!

I enCOURAGE you to go to our Father when you have lost some thing and you cannot find it.  I do not care if you have lost yourself, your health, a pair of glasses or a sparkly sapphire piece of jewelry.  God is always with you. His word says: 

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This [is] the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 NKJV)