Complete in Him

by Tammy Phillips
July 6, 2020

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater [works] than these he will do, because I go to My Father. – John 14:12 NKJV

I was reading through the book of the Acts of the Apostles.  I made it to chapter three.  I read about the lame man being healed.  The Bible records that Jesus healed ALL people and ALL kinds of sickness and disease when He walked this earth.  The Holy Spirit raised this question to me: “WHERE ARE YOUR ACTS?”

The Book of Acts is about the actions of the apostles that spread the gospel, the good news, from Jerusalem throughout the world to Rome.  Isn’t our world crying for good news?  We call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ.   We carry the good news with us, correct?  It was free to us.  Why aren’t we passing it on at every chance?

Jesus said to his followers, his disciples, in John 14:12, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater [works] than these he will do.”  He also said in Luke 4:18:  “The Spirit of the LORD [is] upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to [the] poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to [the] captives and recovery of sight to [the] blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; – Luke 4:18 NKJV 

 We are supposed to do greater than the list above?  WHERE ARE OUR ACTS?”  When is the last time we performed one of these acts?  How about greater?

It blows my mind that we were only taught part of the good news growing up in church.  You know that headline, “Jesus saved you from hell! Repent!”   He did so much more.  He set the mind of the tortured captive free.  He gave sight to the blind.  He made the lame man from birth to walk. He healed the woman with the issue of blood.  Doctors had not been able to help her for 12 years.  He raised the dead.  He created us.  THERE IS NOTHING GOOD THAT THE NAME OF JESUS CANNOT ACCOMPLISH…NOTHING!

I enCOURAGE you to believe, embrace and share the good news of Jesus.  ACT!  Everywhere and all the time.  If all “followers of Jesus,” would ACT like it, the world would be a different place.  Share the good news of Jesus, TODAY!   Jesus said:  “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do [it].” – John 14:13-14 NKJV.  Jesus will act when you ask because he wants the Father to be glorified.  He died for His people to be free, to live, to love and to enjoy life.  He wants us to ACT like him.  How else will people know the good news?

 

by Tammy Phillips
July 5, 2020

And His name,through faith in His name,has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of  you all – Acts 3:16 NKJV

God is ready to act.  What is your need?  I asked and I am believing for the Corona Virus to go away and for healing and unity in our nation.   I am believing for backs to be whole.   I am believing for cancer to be healed, marriages to be saved, and finances to be restored.  I am believing for weddings to happen.  I have asked for a baby…not for us!   I even asked and I am believing for God to supply an auto to a special friend in need of a car.  Most importantly, I am believing for friends and family to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus and for them to follow hard after him.

In Acts 3:13-14, Jesus (Jehovah is Salvation) is called the Holy One (meaning Pure, Sinless, Upright) and Just (meaning Righteous and Blameless).  He is also called the Prince of Life which could also means Chief Leader of Life and Author of Life.  In, through and by His name, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Peter commanded the lame man to rise and walk.

In Acts 3:5, the lame man paid attention to the disciples and expected to receive something from them.

I promise you, he got more than he expected.  He had been crippled since birth.  He ran into the hands and feet of Jesus that day.  Our Lord only gives good and perfect gifts.  He is known for doing exceedingly abundantly above what we ask or think.  The man had never walked before!  He stood and walked.  He actually leapt up, kept on leaping and praising God!  Expect to receive from the Name, Jesus, and watch what he will do through faith in His name!  Our only responsibility is to believe Him and He will do the rest.

The Author and Source of Life gave the lame man life that day.  He gave him strength, healing, wholeness, and perfect soundness.

Strong is the Greek word, steroō, meaning to solidify, make firm, stabilize, make to stand, set in place or balance.

Perfect soundness is the Greek word holoklēria.   This word appears only one time out of the 783,137 words in the King James Bible.  This word is unique and so very special.   It means an unimpaired condition of the body, in which all its members are healthy and fit for use.  It means complete in all its parts, in no part wanting or unsound.  It is the definition of complete, entire, whole.  It implies a body without blemish or defect. Perfect soundness by definition is to make whole what was shattered and broken.

I enCOURAGE you to pay attention to the Lord and expect to receive from Him.  Keep on walking, leaping and praising Him continually.  He is not prejudice.  He does not play favorites.  He is the Source of your life, too.  He also gives YOU His strength, healing, wholeness and perfect soundness.  He has healed, is healing and will make whole all that is shattered and broken in your body.  He give you a sound mine and soul, too.

P.S.  If you have a request that needs prayer, I will pray and I have a group of warriors who will join me.  Leave a comment, email, text or call.   God is ready to act on your behalf.  Remember, God does not have  big problems.

 

by Tammy Phillips
July 4, 2020

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not [use] liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. – Galatians 5:13 NKJV

I thank God that we have been called to liberty in Jesus who paid for our freedom with his blood.  We cannot take this for granted and continue in sin. “Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36 NKJV) We, the children of the Most-High God, are—

FREE from:

Chaos.
Confusion.
Care.
Hate.
Guilt.
Shame.
Worry.
Sickness.
Death.
Want.
The Enemy.
Hell.

FREE to:

Love.
Give.
Pray.
Approach the throne.
Worship.
Sing.
Praise.
Shout a hallelujah.
Be the sons of God.
Enter the gates of heaven.

I enCOURAGE you to enjoy and celebrate your freedom in Christ and in this country.  We will always be free in Christ, but our freedoms in this country are slowly being taken away.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. – Galatians 5:1 NKJV

Remember…

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. – 2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV

 

 

by Tammy Phillips
July 3, 2020

 For a righteous [man] may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. – Proverbs 24:16 NKJV.

I thank God for the blood of Jesus.
I thank God that His word is true.
I thank God for protection.
I thank God for Psalm 91 and 103.
I thank God that He is faithful.
I thank God that no weapon  formed against us shall prosper.  I thank God that “many [are] the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19 NKJV

A few years ago, Kris and I were bringing our (well, my) Christmas tubs and decorations into the house. Somehow, I fell down the two tiny steps leading out into our garage. I slipped off the first step! Sideways and air born, I went!  I was like a redwood crashing to the ground.  I landed on my right side.  Thank God for my extra-large angels who braced my fall.  The concrete before me became like a cushion.

Kris thought I had broken my shoulder, wrist and/or my hip.  I laid there for a few seconds in shock.   I slowly raised up. The Word says:   For a righteous [man] may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. – Proverbs 24:16 NKJV.   I️ promise that I rose by faith.  Nothing! Nothing was hurt; no bruises, no pain, no soreness, no broken bones.

BIG GIRLS DO NOT FALL GENTLY.  Obviously, I fell gracefully.  I fell with the grace, the favor and the protection of God.  I was covered in the protective blood of Jesus.

If you know us, you know how jammed-packed our blessed lives are.  This full life of ours only grows exponentially during November and December.  Did I mention we were preparing to have about 20 for Thanksgiving at our home?   There was no time for accident recovery!

I shared this story to say that Jesus died for so much more than our eternal salvation which I greatly thank him for!  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be SAVED. -John 3:17. Saved is the Greek word sozo, meaning:  keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction. HEALED, WHOLE & COMPLETE.  I was saved that day.

I thank God for His love.
I thank God for the sacrifice of Jesus.
I thank Jesus for every stripe he took for us.
I thank God that we are healed, whole and complete in Him. 

I enCOURAGE you, if I this big girl can fall and rise unharmed, so can you.   Look to the Lord and wait on His salvation.  He will hear you.  Know that when you fall, you will rise in Him because He is your Savior in all things.

Therefore, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.  Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD [will be] a light to me. – Micah 7:7-8 NKJV

PS…This  fall happened about 10 days before I burned my hand on Thanksgiving day (see post) : PRAY THE WORD.  SAY THE WORD.

by Tammy Phillips
Juy 2, 2020

For this God [is] our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death. – Psalm 48:14 KJV

I was mentally tired.  My get up and go was gone.   I was looking for encouragement.  I really did not want to think about anything.  I just wanted to clear my head.   Some people come home after work and choose to have a drink.  I came home and looked for a word from God for clarity.  God knows me best.  He knows laughter is good for this soul.  He is funny and makes me laugh. Holy Spirit  “guided” me to Psalm 48 and it made me laugh:

• God is our God forever and ever.  He is not going anywhere.  We are stuck with Him eternally, as long as we choose Him.  He always chooses us, at our worst and our best.
• He is our Guide…even unto death. He is our Guide over death.  He is our victory.  He is our guide into for ever and ever.
• He is our Guide. Goodness!  I would not want that job for anything.  I absolutely love this word, guide. In Hebrew, It is   Of course, it means so much more than guide.  Expounded below:

God is our Guide.
God is our Lead.
God drives us forth.
God leads us away.
God urges us on
God is our Drive.

I enCOURAGE you…when you reach the point of exhaustion and need to stop for that cup of coffee in this journey of life, no need.  Stop for a word with our Lord.  He is your drive.  He will keep you going.  He will urge you on.  He will guide you to and through.  He will lead you all the way through life into His eternal presence.

by Tammy Phillips
July 1, 2020

 Christ is all and in all. – Colossians 3:11 NKJV

He is all.
He is in all.
He is the whole
He is everything.

He healed all. Matthew 12:15
He healed all who were sick. Matthew 8:16
He healed all different diseases. Matthew 4:24
He desires all to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4
He created all things. – Colossians 1:16 NKJV
He is before all things. – Colossians 1:17 NKJV
He holds all things together. – Colossians 1:17 NKJV
He is far above every name that is named. -Ephesians 1
He is far above all. -Ephesians 1:21
He fills all in all. -Ephesians 1:23
He is head overall. -Ephesians 1:22He is all.

I enCOURAGE you to recall ever day that He is your ALL!
Just chew on that!
He is ALL we need.
HE IS ALL.

by Tammy Phillips
June 29, 2020

Train yourself toward godliness, [keeping yourself spiritually fit].   For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.  -1 Timothy 4:7-8 AMPC

I need to exercise my body, so that it is a reflection of my spirit man!  My spirit is in shape.  It is lean and healthy.  [They test BMI (Body Mass Index); I wish there was SMI (Spirit Mass Index.)

The only reason my inner man is in stellar shape is because I go to the Personal Trainer.  I spend time at the feet of Jesus, every day.  Somedays, it could be 15 minutes; most days, it is longer.  Ten years ago, I committed to spend at least 15 minutes a day working out with my favorite PT.  Usually, my spiritual workout is a couple of hours.  Do your best and do not beat yourself up!

Think about the time and commitment you spend exercising your body.  Scripture says that “exercise is useful, but spiritual training is more valuable in this life and the life to come.”  How much time have you spent with the Lord today?  This is not condemnation, just a question.  The Lord knows, I need to spend more time exercising my bod.

Think about it.  What are the benefits of a personal trainer?  How do those benefits mirror the LORD as our Personal Trainer?

A personal trainer teaches us everything we need to know about exercising.  The Holy Spirit teaches us everything we need to know about life, how to breathe, how to excel, and how to succeed.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. – John 14:26 NKJV

A personal trainer instructs us the correct way to work out by being an example.  Jesus was our example of how to live righteously.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. – Luke 6:40 NKJV and All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, – 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

A personal trainer helps us achieve results faster.  The Lord instructs the steps to take to get the best results.

  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. – Psalm 32:8 NKJV

A personal trainer helps us lose fat, gain muscle, and transform our body.  The Holy Spirits teaches us how to renew our mind, exercise our faith muscles and transform us from the inside out.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – Romans 12:2 NKJV

A personal trainer comes up with new ways push us through plateaus while keeping us motivated. The LORD coaches us and give us His strength to keep us going.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13 NKJV

A personal trainer helps establish realistic and healthy fitness goals as well as a plan to help achieve them.  The One and Only Personal Trainer prepares us for the battle.

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; – Psalm 144:1 ESV

I enCOURAGE you to get your daily work out in, both spiritual and physical.
“But I discipline my body and bring [it] into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” – 1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV

by Tammy Phillips
June 28, 2020

 Thus, says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I [am] the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. – Isaiah 48:17 NKJV

My husband asked me what was wrong.  “Nothing,” was my answer.  He thought I looked pensive.   I was tired.  I shared with him that I did not want to lie down nor sit up.  I did not want to cook nor clean.  I did not want to think nor sink.    I did not want to eat, but I was hungry.   I wanted to eat everything bad and nothing at all.   I did not want watch television, nor be quiet.  I did not want to do anything, except sit on the beach.  I did not want to read, and I always want to read.  I was agitated.

I read a few devotions and then chose to comb through God’s word, even though I did not feel like it.   I found it…my prescription for the day.  (I hope yours, too.)   Agitation darted.   A small smile crossed my face, as I dug into His word.   The Holy Spirit always has something to say and a word to enCOURAGE.  I found encouragement in Isaiah 48:17. The Holy Spirit reminded me who God is:

Our Redeemer
He is our next of kin.  In the South we say our “kinfolk.”  He is our Avenger, Deliver, He purchased us. He paid our ransom. He bought us back with the precious blood of Jesus.

The Holy One
He is the ONLY ONE.  There is only One God.

The Lord our God
 He was, He is, and He will always be, the One True God.

It is the Lord who teaches us how to profit.  The Hebrew word for teach is lamad.  It means to chastise, to goad, to teach by striking with a rod of correction, to be trained and to exercise.  The Lord, Our Trainer, coaches us how to profit.  I always thought this meant excel and benefit, and it does, but there is greater meaning.  Ya’al is not the Hebrew word for “y’all,” but is the word for profit.  It means to rise above, to ascend on high, to ascend a mountain and stand on the summit.

The treasure hidden in the words of Isaiah 48:17 goes something like this:

The Lord says He is our Kin and that he has paid our debt.  He is the Only One and he trains us how to rise above every situation that would try to hold us down.  He is the Lord who encourages us up the mountain of life to the summit.

When we are agitated, it is the Lord Who teaches us to rise above.  It is the Lord who tramples the way before us and tells us which way to go.   A gym trainer shows us how to improve our endurance, body and how to be our best physical self.  It is the Lord who trains our spirit and soul.

I enCOURAGE you to follow the instruction of the ONE.  He will train you how to rise above and ascend the mountain before you.  However, you have to go to the Trainer to be trained.  He is the One Who will lead you to the top, while overcoming ever obstacle alone the way.

 

 

by Tammy Phillips
June 29, 2020

Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. – Psalm 119:165 NKJV

To say that our world is groaning and in great turmoil is kind of an understatement.  When our world is turned upside down, the word of God directs us how to have great peace.  It is in Him.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  Want to get rich in peace?  Love his law. “Great peace have those who love Your law.”  In new covenant terms, love His word, obey His word, and do His word.

Rab is the Hebrew word for great.  It means exceeding, abundant, abounding in, sufficient, and enough.

Love His word and have:

• GREAT PEACE
• EXCEEDING PEACE
• ABUNDANT PEACE
• SUFFICIENT PEACE
• ENOUGH PEACE

It is easy to say, “love His word.”  It is easy to say, “I love you.”  It is not always easy to love.  Love is an action.  The “love” mentioned in Psalm 119:165 NKJV means to desire, to breathe after, to long for, to have an appetite for, to have affection for, to delight, eagerly pursue.  God does not want us to simply say we love him.  He wants us to actively love Him and His word.  When we do choose to love Him, we have great peace.  You cannot separate God from His word.  As we love His word, we demonstrate that we love Him, as we listen and obey His commands.  Do you want to be told you are loved or shown you are loved?

And, one more great benefit is mentioned for those who love the law, “Nothing can cause us to stumble, fall, stagger, totter, waver, be weak in the knees, cause offense of the mind or incite us to go astray.   No obstacle can cause us to stumble because his word, his love, his peace instructs us and show us how to deal.  We can laugh all the way down the road of life knowing we can overcome any obstacle.

That is our God!  He weaves everything altogether to give us His very best.

I enCOURAGE you to get into His word, EVERY DAY!  Love it!   Delight in it and Him!  You will have abounding peace AND NOTHING, no not anything, will be an obstacle to you, nor cause you to fall.

 

by Tammy Phillips
June 27, 2020

God is good, and God does good. Psalm 119:68 NKJV

God is Perfect.
God is Whole.
God is Complete.
God is good.  Undeniably, it is who He is.

God abounds in goodness.  Exodus 34:26
Good and upright is the Lord. Psalm 25:8
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Psalm 33:5
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Psalm 34:8
His lovingkindness is good. Psalm 69:16
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting. Psalm 100:4-5
The Lord is good to all. Psalm 145:9
No one is good but One, that is, God. Mark 10:18

Storms destroy.  God is Good.
Sickness annoys.  God is Good.

Spouses cheat. God is Good.
No food to eat. God is Good.

Man deceives.  God is Good.
Others leave.  God is Good.

Friends lie.  God is Good.
Many close to us die.  God is Good.

Cancer tears bodies apart. God is Good.
Children break our heart.  God is Good.

Family of only two.  God is Good.
Tribe of a whole brood.  God is Good.

Homes abound.  God is Good.
Homelessness astounds.  God is Good.

GOD IS GOOD.  Repeat.  GOD IS GOOD.  Undeniably, it is who He is.  It is not just what He does. He gets blamed for A LOT that He does not do.  He is not bad; He does not do bad.  Do not blame Him when bad comes.  God is good.  It is who he was, is, and will always be.  He has not changed.  He has not forsaken, nor will he ever.  He is always there:  valley or hilltop; strikeout or home run; life or death; sickness or health;  better or worse; rich or poor; success or failure.

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 enCOURAGE you to…”Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” 1 Chronicles 16:3. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7