Complete in Him

by Tammy Phillips
April 8, 2024

The LORD will perfect [that which] concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, [endures] forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands. (Psa 138:8 NKJV)

Morning thoughts….“I AM NOT PERFECT. I know that is news for some of you. (laughing hard!). Lord, You made me. Don’t give up on me. I am your work in process.” – Tammy

Let me say it again. “I AM NOT PERFECT.” My confession is “ I AM BEING PERFECTED.”

I make mistakes, sin, and miss the mark, EVERY DAY. We all do, Christian and non-Christians.

For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses]. (Jas 3:2 AMP)

I am not a perfect daughter of God.
I am not a perfect wife to Kris.
I have not been a perfect mother to my boys.
I am not a perfect mother-in-law.
I am not a perfect daughter to my Mom, Dad, nor stepmom.
I am not a perfect sister-in-law, aunt, nor neighbor.
I am not a perfect friend.
I am not and have not been perfect! Do you know ANYONE that is besides Jesus?

I do not. Thank God for His grace, mercy, and lovingkindness. He sent Jesus here to pay for ALL our mistakes. He paid a debt He did not owe, and we could not pay.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you]. (1Pe 5:10 KJV)

If you are a follower of Christ, or you are following your own way, know this, as a follower of Christ, Christians are being changed (that is an action verb) into the image of Christ. It is Christ who makes us perfect. When children grow up, they grow up to be like their Mom and/or Dad. Christians grow into being like Christ. When we invite Jesus into our life after we recognize we are in need a Savior, He saves, heals, delivers, restores, repairs, completes, and perfects us. It is a lifelong process and project. There is no pill one can take to become perfect. The way of perfection is by following one man, Jesus. It is acting like He acted, talking like He talked, walking like He walked, loving like He loved, and doing what He did.

We are a life-long project of being perfected.

Let me tell you my truth, it is HARD TO LOVE like Jesus when you would rather cut someone with words. Jesus says, “love your enemies.” His word says to walk in love. His word says to crucify the flesh. (Gal 5:24)

Recently, I had to be in the presence of someone who is a liar, who has accused me of being a liar and has tried to harm my family with words. I felt sick at the thought of being in the same room with this individual, but duty called. The word of God of course showed up to help me decisively crucify my flesh and nail it: “Some people making cutting remarks, but the words of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs12:18) I am a spirit man, but I still live in a human body. When someone has hurt me or a loved one, my first thoughts are not toward bringing healing nor LOVING them, but My Lord calls me to love my enemies and to crucify my flesh.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk, (follow, keep in step, and get in line) with the Spirit. (Gal 5:25 Tammy’s Expounded Version )

It is not easy being perfected into the image of our heavenly Father. Transformation from a complete mess to perfectly complete is painful!

Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. (Phl 3:12 AMP)

I encourage you, next time you so quickly want to judge me or another for not doing, saying or being perfect, pause and remember, I AM NOT PERFECT, and neither are you. BUT GOD…as a Christian, I AM working on it.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Mat 5:48 KJV)

Viva Magenta: Live. Breath. Be perfectly perfected.

 

 

 

by Tammy Phillips

March 29, 2024 (Repost of one of my faves from April 10, 2020)

“This do in remembrance of me.”  Luke 22:18

Jesus does not remind us one time in scripture to celebrate his birthday. Yet, we go all out at Christmas. He does not even tell us to celebrate the miracle of his resurrection. He did not throw a big party and neither did His disciples. He does tell us to REMEMBER his work on the cross. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he (Jesus) had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”

I give you at least two hundred and forty trillion reasons why Jesus told us to remember him. Stay with me.

According to the United Nations in March 2020, 7.8 billion people occupied earth. (2024 update: 8,100,216,500. +/-) If each person lived to be 80 years old and committed only an average of one sin per day, that calculates to about 30,000 sins in a life time. Remember, I am only calculating one sin per day. If we multiply, 7,800,000,000/2020 population of earth x 30,000/sins in a life time that equal 240,000,000,000,000 sins.

Two hundred and forty trillion sins.

Let’s be for real… that is not a realistic number.  It is pretty conservative.

Let’s calculate an average of five sins a day for eighty years.  (Before Jesus becomes Lord in your life that number is probably much higher.)  Eighty years equal twenty-nine thousand two hundred days.  29,200 days times 5 sins a day equals 146,000 sins in a lifetime. Round that number to 150,000.  Multiply 150,000 by 7.8 billion which equals 1,170,000,000,000,000!

One quadrillion, one hundred and seventy trillion sins

If this does not blow your mind, this number does not include past or future generations but only the current population on earth. Sadly, I think the sins of the earth rival the numbers of stars in the universe. Just say if each person in the United States tried to pay of that debt, we would each owe about $3,577,981.65.

But if you think that’s insane, think of lining up a trillion $1 bills end-to-end. They could reach the sun, 96,906,565 miles worth of dollar bills. If we equate sin to a dollar bill, Jesus would have to travel to the sun 230 to save us.  He did so much more than that.

Why does Jesus say remember me? Remember my death on the cross? Remember what my body and the blood shed for us? His sacrifice and death was priceless. IT WAS PRICELESS! It was a magnanimous. He paid debt we could not pay but he could. I apologize for talking so much about sin. However, I wanted to show how big the sin was to help illustrate how gargantuan what he did for us was. It cost him his life, his body, his blood.

Talk about pressure! Can you imagine the weight he felt the night and the morning before he walked to his death?  Think about how one sin feels in our spirit.

Why does Jesus say remember?  We take sin way to lightly.  We need to remember what it cost him before we choose to sin one more time.

I enCOURAGE you to join me in remembering what our Savior did for us. Remember, they laughed in his face. They mocked him. They spit in his face. They beat him unmercifully. They treated him as a criminal and he did nothing wrong. They crucified him. They hurled offenses at him as he hung in shame, dying for us all. He lovingly said, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.” Remember, his body was broken and his blood was shed for you and I. We sent him to the cross as much as they did. One man, Jesus willingly went and took our place.

One body. One death paid for it all for all of us.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12:2)

Thank you, Jesus!  Thank you, Father.  Thank you for your sacrifice on our behalf.  Thank you could never be enough.  Help us to sin no more!  Worthy is the Lamb!

Worthy is the Lamb by Hillsong (click link to get your praise on)

What Mercy Did For Me by People and Songs

Live. Breathe. Be Remembering!

by Tammy Phillips
March 25, 2023

O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt his name together. (Psalms 34:3 KJV)

Just like an amplifier amplifies the strums of a guitar, David asks us to join him and magnify the Lord. The Hebrew translation of the word “magnify” is much more interesting than it’s English significance. The word is gadal which means to twist, as in a cord, to make firmer and stronger, or like wrestlers who twist their bodies together and grow stronger. David was saying let’s get together and make God more famous. Is that even possible? He is God.

David continues to say let us exalt and raise His name together. There is strength in numbers. “Together” is the Hebrew word, yahad, which means union of time and place. It comes from the root word that means united or joined together.

Along with David, I ask you to join me, united.

I enCOURAGE you to be a MAGNIFYING UNIT. He stepped out of heaven and became man only to love, live perfectly, be rejected, beaten, mocked, harassed, die a death we deserved and rise again in life eternal…all for us. He was hated so we could be loved. He was rejected so we could be accepted. He was beaten so we could be healed. He died so we could live, here, now, and forever with Him. Let’s strum our vocal cords together and spread the fame of our Lord.

by Tammy Phillips
March 19, 2024

“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on…” (Colossians 3:12 CSB)

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith. (Matthew 6:30)

As children of God, we are called God’s chosen one, hole and beloved. Jesus loves us so much that he tells us, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.” (Luke 12:22 NKJV). He makes life easy for us. He tells us not to worry about what to put on. Sometimes what we have in mind to wear is NOT what God has in His store for us at all.

I used to wear black all the time with a little red. I wanted to fade into the background and remain unnoticeable. I wanted to cover everything inside and out. I really wanted to be invisible. In the physical and spiritual that was not God’s choice for me. I am a child of God, and He wants me to dress like abundant life instead of death. In His store are many departments. Let’s go shopping!!!

In the Romans 13:12 …

He tells us to put off the works of darkness and PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT. 
Put off drunkenness and drinking parties and Put on a sober mind.
Put off lust and  sexual immorality and put on purity.
Put off excessive consumption of food and put on self-control
Put off strife and quarreling and put on peace.
Put off envy and jealousy  and put on long suffering.
Put of getting hot and boiling and put on

Put off the flesh, cravings, longings, and lust. PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. (Romans 13:14)

In Ephesians…

Put off the old man which grows corrupt from desires of lust, deception, and greed.

Put off your former conduct, (Ephesians 4:22 NKJV)

PUT ON THE NEW MAN which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24 KJV)

Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (Eph 4:23 NKJV)

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUROF GOD so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. and so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, stand. (Ephesians 6:11,14)

Put on the belt of truth buckled around your waist. (Ephesians 6:14)
Put on the breastplate of righteousness. (Ephesians 6:14)
Put on the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace for shoes. (Ephesians 6:15)
Put on the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16)
Put on the helmet of salvation. (Ephesians 6:17)Put on the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God and pray in the Spirit on all occasions
Put on alertness and keep on praying.(Ephesians 6:18)

In Colossians…

Put off whatever belongs to your earthly nature and old man. Put off sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.(Colossians 3:5)

Put off anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language from your lips and lying. Put off your old self with its practices. (Colossians 3:8-9) And…

PUT ON YOUR NEW MAN and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” (Colossians 3:10)

PUT ON AS THE CHOSEN AND ELECT OF GOD, holy and beloved…
Put on tender mercies and compassionate hearts.
Put on kindness.
Put on humbleness of mind, a deep sense of one’s littleness.
Put on meekness and gentleness.
Put on patience and longsuffering. (Colossians 3:12)

Put off hate and PUT ON LOVE, which is the bond of perfection and completion, above all these things. (Colossians 3:14)

I enCOURAGE you to shop in God’s store. Dress appropriately as a chosen, selected, and elected child of God. Put on the armor of light, the new man, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole armor of God. Put on mercy, kindness, humbleness, gentleness, and patience. Above all, put on love. It covers a multitude of sins that need to be put off.

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God.
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, a
s a bridegroom decks [himself] with ornaments,
and as a bride adorns [herself] with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10 NKJV)

By Tammy Phillips
March 11, 2024

Yes, every human being is only a vapor. Selah (Psa 39:11 CSB)

Let me start by saying life is good. It is really, really good. No death sentence has been declared over me. In fact, the word of God says, “I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done. … I will give thanks to you because you have answered me and have become my salvation.” (Psa 118:17, 21 CSB) He is my victory!

BUT GOD…

The Lord has been showing me how very precious life is and that it is only a vapor. My prayer is:

“LORD, make me aware of my end and the number of my days, so that I will know how short-lived I am. In fact, you have made my days just inches long, and my life span is as nothing to you. Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor. Selah …Yes, every human being is only a vapor. Selah (Psa 39:4-5, 11 CSB)

“Selah” is a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, or interruption, according to Strong’s definition. It is a suspension of the music. To me…selah is a suspension of the music of life. It is a time to pause and think. It is where I am today.

I am pausing and reflecting of the fact that life is a vapor. We take it and others for granted. We tend to be so busy that we do not pause and breathe in every moment.

People are so excited when the stars or planets align. It is a thing of majesty. Yes, it is.

BUT GOD…

He aligned ten days for me to spend time with Him and three different groups of women who are invaluable to me. If I had tried to plan this at the end of my life it would have never worked out.

Group One: Four ladies who have recently entered my life. We travel around the state of Tennessee visiting cities, shopping at new places and dining at local establishments. We laugh hard at our aging selves. We kicked off our most recent journey visiting our own city. You should really do that in your own city. Visit local shops and eat at local restaurants your have never tried and enjoy friends in your own city. Life is only a vapor. What are you waiting on?

Group Two: Lifelong friends who met in Blue Ridge, GA. Eight of us were graciously invited by my life long best friend. We hijacked her weekend and celebrated her. Our college bestie, said it best, “Whenever I spend time with you. I’m reminded how incredibly blessed I am to have you as my besties!” This groups of friends all live in Georgia, my home state. I do not talk, nor see them often enough. Call and visit your friends far off. One day they will be gone. Life is a vapor.

Group Three: Collectively, we are called “Cover Tennessee in Prayer” and the Lala Sisters. We were invited to meet in Cashiers, NC at a sisters mountain home. We will be meeting with Jesus. We will be praying for the world, our nation, states, counties, cities, communities, churches, our leaders, our families, and our friends. We will laugh, cry, and pray. We do everyday life together and pray our way through it. Find a group of people who you can do life with and pray often. They are invaluable. Life is vapor.

Last, and most importantly, my very best friend, my God! ( let me say, I love my husband. I thank him for supporting me on this journey to visit with friends. I miss him so much, but he knows, Jesus is my number one.) I have about three days between friend visits where I am going to turn off life and visit with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I am going to see what He has to say. I am going to seek Him and His will because life is a vapor.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit. Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring — what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (Jas 4:13-15 CSB)

I enCOURAGE you to selah. Breathe in life, every moment of it. Celebrate every second and every friend that God has placed in your life. I am incredibly thankful and blessed by every friend! I did not realize how full my life was.

Love your family even if they drive you crazy sometimes. I am going to do better. How about you?

Tomorrow is NOT guaranteed. Life is a vapor. Live. Breathe. Be.

by Tammy Phillips and Ashley Nicole
March 4, 2024

My sister in Christ, “Ashely Nicole,” posed this question in a Facebook post? 

“If you could sit down with Jesus for two minutes, what would you say?”

It made me stop and really think. Please, STOP, think, and answer before you proceed to read my answer. I would love to know your answers in the comments.

My answers:

1. Wow. Could I even mutter? The song, “I Can Only Imagine” ran through my mind…

“I can only imagine. Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine”

2. “I love you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I love you.”

3. Wow. I wake every day, go to bed, and spend every second with My God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is ALWAYS WITH ME. He said He would never leave me nor forsake me.

Do I tell him I love him, every day? Do I love Him every day? Do I thank Him every day?

God places people in our lives to point us to Jesus. Thanks, sister! You changed my life…perspective…AGAIN.

I enCOURAGE you to sit down with Jesus every day. Talk to God like He is sitting with you because He is. We were created for relationship with Him and others. He loves you so very much and only wants us to love Him and others in return. If you do not know Jesus, allow me to point you to him. He is Savior and Lord, and you need Him in your life.

P.S. ”Ashley Nicole” came into my life in the most God way on February 23, 2016. I was in Kroger trying to reach something from the top of an aisle. She got it down for me. Then right there in the middle of Kroger, she asked me, “Are you OK and how can I pray for you?” I had obviously been crying. I shared my pain with her. It was such a God moment. As a caregiver, I had lost a friend on February 10, 2016. I was still very much missing her and in the process of trying sale our house to move halfway across the state. I was a mess. God sent “Ashley Nicole” to me on that day to point me back to Him and his immense love.

I have only met her in person that one time, but we have stayed in contact via Facebook and handful of phone calls.  She is my sister in Christ who always points me back to Jesus. 

 

by Tammy Phillips
February 27, 2024

 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. (Psalm 31:24 NKJV)

I used to be shy and very timid. I did not talk to anyone unless absolutely necessary. I lived life as a turtle tucked inside my shell, believing that no one could hurt me if I remained hidden. Praise God. He has delivered me. He has taught be to be strong and courageous, a bulldog in faith. He has given me a voice. He taught me to write for Him. I write to enCOURAGE you in the Lord and in life. I write to move you from the place of DIScourageMENT, whether it be from weakness, sickness, sadness, depression, anxiety, or timidity…into courage. The Lord repeatedly inspires us through His word to be courageous! The Hebrew word for courage, chazaq, is so rich in meaning.

BE OF GOOD COURAGE…

• Be Strong
• Withstand
• Be Bound Fast
• Be Gird
• Hold Fast
• Fasten To
• Take Hold Of
• Be Stuck Fast
• Be Joined to
• Be Constant
• Be Bold
• Be Earnest
• Be Established
• Be Made Strong
• Be Made Firm
• Be Repaired
• Be Restored
• Be Rebuilt
• Be Resolute

I know you might get tired of hearing the same thing, but if the Lord encourages me every day to be resolute in Him.  I am going enCOURAGE you to do the same!   Courage is boldly facing our fears. Courage is confidently doing it afraid.

Continuing …

I can enCOURAGE with His Word, but it is God who strengthens. It is God he strengthens me to write. It is God who gives me the boldness to talk to the stranger. It is the Lord who makes me brave to minister and pray for others. It is all Him. We can do all things with Him and nothing without Him. He is the power behind the courage.

HE SHALL STRENGTHEN…

• Be Alert Physically
• Be Alert Mentally
• Steadfast In Mind
• Be Determined
• To Be Strong
• Be Fortified
• Be Brave
• Be Bold
• Be Firm

…YOUR HEART.

• Your sick heart
• Your lonely heart
• Your weary heart
• Your pained heart
• Your broken heart

ALL YOU WHO HOPE IN THE LORD.

• All you who wait in the Lord.
• All you who are patient in the Lord.
• All you who expect in the Lord.

I enCOURAGE you to be COURAGEOUS, be STRONG and to HOPE IN THE LORD.  Turn your life around; face him head on.  You have an amazing life to boldly live out in Him.

Live. Breathe. Be courageous and strong. Hope in the Lord

by Tammy Phillips
February 19, 2024

PSALM 37: INSTRUCTION IN WISDOM

It’s funny when I read through this chapter yesterday, I passed right over verse one.  And it IS the beginning of wisdom in this instruction.  I have been praying about a  few situations for a while now.  I know the Lord’s word and what He tells me to do, but I didn’t know how to do.  Psalm 37 is my answer and I almost missed it.

Have you ever had a person or persons in your life that just at the mention of their name, it’s like fingernails on a chalk board? Seeing their face or hearing their voice makes your skin crawl?

(Remember Jesus is still working on me and transforming me into His image, obviously, I am not there yet.)  I have been praying for an answer and I needed more strategies from the Lord than “love your enemies.” Those three words from Jesus should be enough.  He used brother David’s Psalm 37 or song to knock me over the head.  

1.  SING ABOUT IT.   PSALM [A Psalm] of David.

2. DO NOT FRET, meaning, don’t be agitated, kindled, hot, angry, incensed, burning, glowing warm, nor blazed up.

Do not fret because of evildoers,Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. (Psa 37:1 NKJV)

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. (Psa 37:2 NKJV)

3. TRUST: fear nothing, confide, be careless, hope, be sure, confident, secure, and bold in the Lord.

Trust in the LORD, and do goodDwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. (Psa 37:3 NKJV)

4.   DELIGHT:  be soft, pliable, be glad, and enjoy…

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psa 37:4 NKJV)

5.   COMMIT:  roll, wallow, roll upon…yes, roll it all on the Lord.

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring [it] to pass. (Psa 37:5 NKJV)

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. (Psa 37:6 NKJV)

6.   REST:  stop, be still, be silent, be astonished,  and be amazed in the Lord.

Rest in the LORD. (Psa 37:7 NKJV0

7.   WAIT: twist, turn, twirl, dance, and shake  for Him.

Wait patiently for Him; DO NOT FRET because of him who prospers in his way,Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. (Psa 37:7 NKJV)

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;DO NOT FRET–[it] only [causes] harm. (Psa 37:8 NKJV)

For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. (Psa 37:9 NKJV)

I enCOURAGE you to not get fired up. Sing it out like David. Do not fret. Trust the Lord. Do right. Delight in Him. Commit your ways to Him. Trust Him. He will make it happen. Rest in Him and wait patiently on Him. One of my favorite pictures of God, “But the one who rules in heaven laughs. (Psa 2:4 NLT) Our hope is laughing God who says, “Nothing is too hard for me.” and “the Lord laughs at him for He sees that his day is coming. (Psa 37:13 NKJV) God’s got it!

Live. Breath. Be not fired up!

By Tammy Phillips
February 14, 2024

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will BE LOVED by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (Jhn 14:21 NKJV)

“Looking for love in all the wrong places” is a well-known lyric from and old country song by Johnny Lee. Been there done that, how about you? Today, on what the world deems love day, I challenge you to be loved and find love in the only One who loves you completely, Jesus.

When my Nanny departed earth, I was sitting at work. The Lord allowed me an unforgettably, unique opportunity into her journey home. In my spirit I heard her say, “It is so love. It is so light. It is so love.” After a few moments, I gathered myself. I called my Mom to confirm and hear that Nanny’s spirit had passed on to eternal life and left her body on earth. I can just as loudly hear here words today, “It’s so love.” She was experiencing the presence of God. I want you to hear God singing over you today, words from His love letters to you…

For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

God is love.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love–not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. We love Him because He first loved us.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. By this we know love because He laid down His life for us. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.*

I encourage you in the love of God. Knowing, I mean really, really, knowing how much God loved me and that nothing I had done, could do ,or would ever do would change His love for me, rocked my world. His love changed me. We all want to be loved deeply and unconditionally. This is the love God freely gives.*

This lead me to Pauls’ prayer over every one that reads this post… “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what [is] the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph 3:17-19 NKJV) There is nothing like God’s love and being full of Him.

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. (1Co 16:24 NKJV)

Live. Breathe. Be Loved!

* (Zep 3:17; 1 Jo4:8-10, 19; Jhn 15:13; Rom 5:8; 1Jo 3:16; John 3:16; Eph 5:2; Eph 2:4-5; John 15:9;Rom 8:35,37-38; . 1Co 13:4-7; 2Ti 1:7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Tammy Phillips
February 5, 2023

Ever had a day when you did not want to get out of bed?  Sleep had deserted you?? Ever had to give yourself a strong pep talk to get up and get going?  Fear greeted you before your feet could hit the floor. Anxiety was loudly ringing the doorbell before you could pour the first cup of coffee.  The unknown was waiting for you to rise to begin its attack.  Ever had to call on the Lord to help you rise much less get through the day?

I have experienced all of these and then have remembered the words of Paul in Philippians 4:11:

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.”

Below is a short list from 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 of the trials Paul went through…

• Labors
• Imprisonments
• Beaten multiple times without number in danger of death
• Five times thirty-nine lashes from the Jews
• Three times beaten with rods
• Stoned once
• Three times he was shipwrecked
• A night and a day he spent drifting in the sea
• Exposed to danger from rivers
• Exposed to danger from bandits
• Exposed to danger from his own countrymen
• Exposed to danger from the Gentiles
• Exposed to danger in the city
• Exposed to danger in the wilderness
• Exposed to danger on the sea
• Exposed to danger among those posing as believers
• Experienced much hardship
• Often unable to sleep
• Often in hunger and thirst
• Often driven to fasting for lack of food
• Exposed to cold without adequate clothing
• Besides those external things, the daily inescapable pressure of his concern for all the churches. 
• Feeling the weakness, pain, sorrow, and temptations of all the people.

Notice, I said that he went through them. Not only did make it through and endure every suffering on the list, he said he was content in whatever state. Content is the Greek word, autarkēs, meaning sufficient for one’s self, strong enough, possessing enough to need no aid or support; enough in means or lot. Content is a derivative of arkeō, meaning to be possessed with unfailing strength, to be strong, to suffice, to be satisfied, to be enough.

Webster’s 1828 defines content as:  quiet; not disturbed; having a mind at peace; Rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, restraining complaint, opposition, or further desire, and often implying a moderate degree of happiness.

Paul was saying that it did not matter where he was or what he was going through, he was content.  Whatever his lot, God was enough. Wherever he was, his mind was at rest in Him.  If Paul can say it, can we be encouraged to say the same?

I enCOURAGE you to join me and speak by faith, “I have learned no matter what, I am to be content.  It is enough.”

Live. Breathe. Be content.