TEN MILLION DOLLARS FOUND IN TIN CANS!

Donald L. Phillips Ph.D.

Part I

Here is a recent news item: “Gold coins worth ten million dollars, found in old rusty tin cans!”  It tells of a couple in California who found these old rusty tin cans containing numerous gold coins worth over ten million dollars.  Most people are thinking, “I wish that was me because I could certainly use ten million dollars right now.”

As I heard this news, my thoughts went immediately to 2 Corinthians 4: 7 (In several versions).  “If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious treasure, Jesus, and His Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us.” 

“Thank you Father for the awesome treasure you have given to the followers of Christ, and we know that treasure is Jesus and His Kingdom.”

If you are a follower of Christ, you have the greatest and most precious treasure anyone could ever possess. That treasure is Jesus and His kingdom and is worth far more than all the riches in the world. and He wants us to make Him known to a world that desperately needs Him now. 

Here is a story that helps illustrate a very important message I am trying to convey:

A very wealthy man and his son traveled the world to purchase famous paintings.  The man’s son was drafted into the military and went to Viet Nam.  He was killed in battle attempting to rescue his comrades. The father was deeply grieved. 

A few months later a man came to visit him and told him that he was one of the men his son saved.  He told him that he and his son were good friends and they both loved the arts. The visitor went on to tell him that he was somewhat of a portrait painter himself.  He said he painted a portrait of his son and gave it to the father as a gift.  The father was amazed at how the artist had captured the features of his son.  The father treasured the painting of his son more than the others. 

A short time later the father died and his estate came up for sale.  The auctioneer presented the painting of the son as the first item to be auctioned.  “What am I bid for the son?” The crowd said, “We don’t want to bid on that painting because the painter is unknown.”  The auctioneer continued the auction.  “What am I bid for the painting of the son?”   A man from the back of the room stood up and said, “Sir, I am the gardener for this estate. I loved that young man; he was like my own son. I would like to buy that painting but all I have is one hundred dollars. “Do I hear two hundred?”  No further bid so the gardener paid his one hundred dollars and took possession of the painting of the son.

Then the auctioneer announced that the auction was closed.  The audience was enraged. The auctioneer reported to the audience that there was a stipulation in the will that said, “WHOEVER GETS THE SON, GETS THE WHOLE ESTATE.”

May God help us know how blessed we are to have Jesus and His Kingdom living in us. What an awesome treasure!   Let us share this treasure with the world!

In part two I will deal with Matthew 6:19-21 “Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.” (The Message)

                   

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Donald L. Phillips Ph.D. LifeCoachDon@att.net    www.drdonphillips.com.

You can order his book: “Healing Broken Lives and Relationships” through Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc.  It is available in hard copy or eBook format.

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WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT – Part 1

Donald L. Phillips Ph.D.

On Super Bowl Sunday I joined others at Live Heart Church to watch the Super Bowl game. Ruthanne isn’t a football fan so she stayed home.  Before the game started I saw a preview of the half-time show and could see that it would be glorifying sex etc. I told everyone that if Ruthanne knew what the half-time show was about she would pray for a power outage.

There was a power outage, but not during the half-time show, It came afterwards.  People asked me to call Ruthanne to pray that the lights would go back on so they could finish the game.  We all had a good laugh and after over 30 minutes the lights did come back on.

The next day as I was praying, the Holy Spirit impressed me that He wanted to use the light outage as a prophetic message to His followers and the world.

As I pray for the nation and the world, I experience two different emotions: (1) I feel deep sorrow and sadness for the way the world is falling farther and farther away from a loving God. (2) I also feel great faith and confidence that God has everything under control and He will fulfill His promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh in these last days and many will be swept into the Kingdom of God.

I pray God’s grace and mercy will be extended to a world that is rapidly turning its back on Him and is facing impending judgment.  As I prayed the Holy Spirit led me to Jeremiah 13: 14-15

 “Then I said, listen for the Lord has spoken.  Listen carefully and give heed, do not be proud and haughty: don’t stay stuck in your ways!  It’s God’s message we are dealing with here.

Let your lives glow bright before God and give Him glory, before He turns out the lights, before you trip and fall on the dark mountain paths. The light you always took for granted will go out and the world will turn black. Give glory to the Lord your God, before He brings darkness and before you stumble, and while you are hoping for the light He makes it into darkness, and turns it into gloom.

If you people won’t listen, I will go off by myself and weep over you.  I will weep because of your stubborn arrogance and pride. Bitter tears will flow from my eyes, because God’s sheep will be taken captive and end up in exile.  (Emphasis mine)

As I pray for our nation and the world, I feel a deep stirring in my spirit that we are on the verge of world-wide crisis that will usher in the last great revival.  I feel God is giving me an assignment along with others, to live out the Kingdom of God life-style and encourage other followers of Christ to do the same.  May we let the light of Jesus Christ shine brightly in us and through us as the world gets darker

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Matthew 4: 16 “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, A LIGHT HAS SHINED!”

Don Phillips  LifeCoachDon@att.net    www.drdonphillips.com   Go to search engines to order: 

“Healing Broken Lives and Relationships”

LIVING A “KINGDOM OF GOD” LIFESTYLE

By Donald L. Phillips Ph.D.

Will you join me to prayerfully know where God would have us all put our priorities in the remaining years of our lives.  I am determined that my life must count the most for God and His Kingdom.  As I look at my options I am aware that God has called and anointed me to work with Him and the Holy Spirit to heal broken lives and relationships.  I find such joy and fulfillment as I team up with the Holy Spirit and watch Him perform healing and growing miracles in individuals and in relationships. This will always be one of my God-given priorities.

As I become more of aware of the spiritual condition of the bride of Christ world-wide, and see what is happening in our world, I feel such an urgency to do all the Holy Spirit enables me to do, to help God’s Kingdom children learn how to more successfully live a Kingdom of God lifestyle.

As followers of Christ who are learning to live a Kingdom of God lifestyle, we are aware that our nation and the world are being shaken.  We are being informed that the economy of our nation and much of the world is experiencing a major shaking.  The U.S. Embassies in Egypt, Libya and other nations have been attacked by those who hate our nation and Israel.  The U.S. Ambassador and three other U.S. employees were killed in Libya.  It seems that everything that can be shaken is being shaken and I believe this will continue.

The shaking should be no surprise to the citizens of the Kingdom of God, especially as we read and understand God’s Word.

 “So be careful and do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Others refused to listen to him when he warned them on earth, and they did not escape. So it will be worse for us if we refuse to listen to God who warns us from heaven. When he spoke before, his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once again I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once again” clearly show us that everything that was made—things that can be shaken—will be destroyed. Only the things that cannot be shaken will remain. So let us be thankful, because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We should worship God in a way that pleases him with respect and fear.” Hebrews 12: 25-28 (NCV) (My emphasis)

You are sons and daughter of the Kingdom of God if you have repented of your sins and committed yourself to follow Christ. So be thankful and worship the King of Kings and be convinced that you belong to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Eugene Peterson, in the Message Bible, helps us understand verses Hebrews 12: 27-28, even better. “The phrase “one last shaking” means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered. Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander.” (My emphasis)

IF WE ARE SONS AND  DAUGHTERS OF HIS KINGDOM, THEN MAY GOD HELP US TO ACT LIKE IT.

 “So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” Colossians 3: 1-2 (Message)

Could it be that God is giving the Sons and daughters of the Kingdom of God an opportunity to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem? If we are true sons and daughters of the King of the Kingdom of God, then it would make sense that our King would want us to live a lifestyle that would enable us to enjoy all the benefits the King of the Kingdom provides us.  He would want us to live in such a Kingdom lifestyle that it would point people to the King and His Kingdom. 

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

A few years ago there was a T.V. program called, “The Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous.” This program spotlighted celebrity worship and the eccentricities and excesses of some of the member of the "rich and famous" each week. Special attention was always given to the prices paid for the various luxuries with which the upper crust enhanced their daily lives, ranging from spacious seaside villas, to classic cars, to gold-plated bathroom fixtures.

I have a strong conviction that God wants those of us who belong to the Kingdom of God, to understand how to live the lifestyle God has set out for us in the Bible. There are those living in the Kingdom of Darkness who desperately need to see the light of the World, Jesus, shining from those in the Kingdom of light that will lead them to that very same Kingdom.

“If the Good News that we preach is hidden, it is hidden only to those who are lost. The devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. They cannot see the light of the Good News—the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is exactly like God.” 2 Corinthians 4: 3-4 (NCV)

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined. From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Matthew 4: 16-17 NLT  “Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (Message)

If your life is not pointing people to this generous Father and King, then let the Holy Spirit lead you there!

MAY GOD  HELP US TO LIVE ,TEACH AND PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND ITS LIFESTYLE

The Holy Spirit is impressing upon His disciples and leaders that we must teach and preach more about the Kingdom of God and how to live a more successful Kingdom of God lifestyle. My heart rejoiced as my pastor, Steve Wilson, emphasized the Kingdom of God in a recent sermons.  I was also blessed to read the blogs, my friend and mentor, Ernest Gentile put on his web site about the Kingdom of God. You may go to his website to read more:  http://www.ernestgentile.com.   

For the past several months the Holy Spirit has been helping me to experience a deeper understanding of the Kingdom of God I am being daily shaken with new revelation about what it means to live a Kingdom of God lifestyle and I want to share some of those insights with you.

•  I am asking the Holy Spirit to examine every part of my life and make whatever adjustments He wants to make.  I am asking Him to do a thorough housecleaning in my life and get rid of any historical and religious junk that would prevent me from living a more successful Kingdom of God lifestyle.
• God is showing me now, like never before, how to become more intimate with the King of the Kingdom of God. I am finding my daily private time with Him becoming more real and precious as time goes on.  For the past many years I wake up at 4:00 AM to spend at least two to three hours in prayer, the word and worship.  When I go for my early morning walk I listen to the Scriptures or teachings on the Kingdom on my Smart Phone. I share this not to impress you, but to encourage you to let God help you to know how to live a more successful Kingdom of God lifestyle and help you spend more focused and intentional time with the King of the Kingdom.
• As I grow deeper in my love relationship with my King, He is teaching me daily to understand how to apply the Sermon on the Mount teaching and other Scriptures in my daily walk with my wife, my family and those He brings into my life.
• As the economic and political shaking continues, many people will search for God. God wants the citizens of His Kingdom to let the miracle working power and love to be clearly evident in them. As God’s followers learn to live the Kingdom of God lifestyle they will be better prepared to minister to the needy people in the coming critical times that will become the setting for the greatest revival and outpouring of the Holy Spirit the world has ever known.
• During these times of crises, Satan is working even harder to blind the minds of those who are looking for answers. As God's truth shines  upon people by the Spirit of God, let’s pray that the film over their blinded eyes will be removed allowing them to clearly see and respond to Jesus.

 I feel that God is giving me a mandate to share more on this vital subject and will do so in future writings. Your fellow-Kingdom of God citizen –  LifeCoachDon@att.net        www.drdonphillips.com

My book:  “HEALING BROKEN LIVES AND RELATIONSHIPS” is now available on eBook format –

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Or:

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DONNA REMEMBERED 57 YEARS LATER

DONNA REMEMBERED ON HER 56^TH BIRTHDAY

By her parents: Don and Ruthanne Phillips

Yesterday would have been Donna’s 56^th birthday. Ruthanne & I have been talking about some “Precious Memories” about Donna and will share some of them with you. I remember being awakened about 1: 00 AM 56 years ago and driving Ruthanne to the Miss. Frieses Maternity Hospital in Bakersfield where Donna was born. I remember that I wasn’t allowed in the delivery room but I got as close as I could and heard Donna’s first but not her last cry. I cried also with deep joy and gratitude when I held her in my arms for the first time as I welcomed her into our world. (It was like I was reliving history when I saw Jeremy holding our newborn Mary Esther.) Thirty six years later, and after she and Richard became the parents of Abby, Jeremy, Rachel and Ruthie, we released her into the arms of Jesus. Some day we all will join her to never be separated again.

We remember that at the age of 12 Donna was baptized in the Holy Spirit and for her remaining 24 years she lived totally sold out to Jesus and became a vessel that God could pour into and out of to impact many lives for His glory. She loved to worship and wrote several worship songs. She displayed great courage and faith as she faced the pain in the last three years of her life.

Ruthanne told me this morning that she could visualize Donna singing and dancing before her Bridegroom Jesus. We see Donna in all four of her precious children which makes it easier for us to deal with her absence here on earth. Her children and grandchildren have so much of her spiritual DNA. We see her love for God, his Word, and desire to worship growing in her children and grandchildren.

We are so grateful that her family has the same wonderful gift of loving and accepting people unconditionally and having the gift of hospitality. We know their mother is recoicing and so are we that Donna continues to live on in the lives of her children and grandchildren.

‘We know she would be so pleased that Richard and their family is growing deeper in love with Jesus every day. We also would be so very pleased that her grandchildren are being raised to love and serve Jesus. We also know that she would be blessed to know her brothers Denny and Rod are growing in their relationship with God. “

Because we all have put our faith in Jesus as Savior we will all be with Him and each other for all eternity and never again be separated."Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” ( I John 3: 2, 3)

DON’S UPDATE ON HIS BATTLE WITH CANCER

Thursday - April 28, 2011 (6:00 AM)

Words fail to express our deep gratitude for our many brothers and Sisters who are standing with us during this challenging season. For over a week I have been experiencing severe pain on my left side and hip just below where the tumor is. My Oncologist is concerned that the cancer may have spread and has ordered a bone scan. I will go to the hospital today for that procedure. I will not get the results for a few days. Ruthanne and I are trusting God that the pain is not related to the cancer. Thank you for joining your faith with ours.

Last night, after we prayed, we felt such peace, knowing that our God is in control and that He will continue to give us grace and peace to face our future without fear. One of my sons in the ministry, Danny Radcliff, called and asked me if I heard that David Wilkerson had been killed in a car accident. I had not heard that but, after hanging up, I went on face book and discovered that it was true. We are grieved that the body of Christ has experienced a great loss of another hero of faith.

Recently I ministered in a Men’s retreat where David’s cousin, Rich Wilkerson, was the main speaker. I was so blessed that we shared some personal times together. I could see that there certainly was a “family anointing” on the Wilkerson clan. Rich confirmed that it was true that David had died.

God encouraged us deeply as we read David Wilkerson’s blog he wrote just hours before his abundant entrance into God’s presence. It could not have been more timely, as we face the current unknowns. I will share with you some of David Wilkerson’s blog that impacted us. I pray your faith in a loving, healing, providing God will grow stronger as you face your own challenges. I will highlight the sections that touched me the most.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2011

WHEN ALL MEANS FAIL--- POSTED BY DAVID WILKERSON

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.

That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”

Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world."

                                                                                                           

LifeCoachDon@att.net      http://www.drdonphillips.com/

AN INFINITE GOD BECOMES PERSONAL TO FINITE MAN - PART 1

AN INFINITE GOD BECOMES PERSONAL TO FINITE MAN- PART 1

Don Phillips- March 2, 2011

As I enter into the twilight years of my life, (upper 70’s), I have an increasing desire and passion to know God more personally and intimately and to make Him known to others. These words from the Amplified version of Philippians 3: 10 express my heart.

“[For my determined purpose is] to know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection and that I may so share in His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness] even to His death.”

A DREAM WORTH SHARING

Recently I was invited to be on the leadership team of the “Radical Men’s Summit” sponsored by Green Valley Church of Watsonville, California, pastored by Dennis Smith. The main Speaker was Rich Wilkerson, Pastor of Trinity Church in Miami, Florida. It was truly a Holy Spirit –encounter week-end. I was personally refreshed and renewed in my spirit.

Before I woke up Sunday morning of the Summit, I had a dream and I shared it with the men that morning. I dreamed there was a large black board and I saw a hand holding a piece of chalk. The hand was drawing different sizes lines. At the top of the board the hand drew a long line and the line kept going off the board into infinity. Then I saw the individual lines merging into the longer line at the top of the board.

When I woke up the dream was still fresh in my mind and I wrote it down and began to pray in the Spirit for further revelation. The Holy Spirit helped me to see that the individual lines represented each follower of Christ and the measurement of their spiritual maturity and commitment. The line going off into infinity represented God.

As further revelation began to come to me, I saw that God’s infinite love and grace was drawing each believer to Himself to experience a deeper more profound relationship with Him.

Those individuals who responded were now experiencing the fullness and completeness that God wanted them to have. I asked the Holy Spirit to give me Scriptural verifications to confirm what I was seeing and He did.

Scriptural verifications

Here are a few of them: (From the New Living Translation)

Ezekiel 40: 3-4 “As he brought me nearer, I saw a man whose face shone like bronze standing beside a gateway entrance. He was holding in his hand a measuring tape and a measuring rod. He said to me, “Son of man, watch and listen. Pay close attention to everything I show you. You have been brought here so I can show you many things. Then you will return to the people of Israel and tell them everything you have seen.”

John 3: 34 “For he (Jesus) is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God’s Spirit is upon him without measure or limit.”

Ephesians 4:11-16 “He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.

Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

God holds our faces in His hands

This dream reminded me of another spiritual picture God gave me several years ago when I was in an early Morning Prayer meeting at our church. I saw a large wheel with God at the hub of the wheel. Each believer had their own private channel to God. God was lovingly looking into the face of each believer, cupping their face in His hands. He was saying to each believer, ”I love you more than you know and I want a deeper more intimate relationship with you. Please come closer to me.”

I saw that people were at different proximity to God, some were very close and some one fourth of the way to Him and some three fourth and others at the rim end of their channel. I could see one person at the rim end of his channel representing many other believers. He was pacing back and forth in the shadows to the things he had erected between himself and God. He would peer around the stuff and wave at God and say “Yes, God, I know you love me and want a closer relationship with yourself but right now I am not there. I saw that person get so disgusted and angry with where he was and depressed about how he had gradually let things come between himself and God.

Then I saw this man confess and repent for allowing those things to come between himself and God. He began to throw the “stuff” aside and make his way to the Father. His life became less complicated and cluttered as He got closer to God. As he was making his way closer to God he was encouraging others to do the same.

Application

I pray that God will help us all to heed and obey the Holy Spirit as He calls us to examine our lives and allow Him to help us to MEASURE up to all He desires for us to be and do.

“Let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:22-25 NLT)

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LifeCoachDon@att.net           http://www.drdonphillips.com/



GOD'S CHILDREN NEVER DIE! DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

CHILDREN OF GOD NEVER DIE!    DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

By Don Phillips - January 28, 2011

“You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives, believing in me, does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?”  (John 11:25, 26) (Msg.) Emphasis added.

My Oncologist said to Ruthanne and me; “Don, you have stage 2 lung cancer and the prognosis isn’t good. The tumor is close to the lining of the lungs and your heart, and there is a possibility the cancerous cells will get into the blood stream and spread Cancer throughout your body.”

We have strong faith that I will live many more years here on earth to serve Him. We deeply appreciate our brothers and sisters throughout the world who are praying for us.

Ruthanne and I were very blessed as we attended the recent Minister’s Fellowship International Regional meeting in Oakland, California. Many of our fellow minister friends told me that they and their church were praying for me to be healed of Cancer. They asked how I was doing and I reported that I haven’t had pain in a month. That night in our hotel room I was awakened several times with severe pain and Ruthanne and I prayed each time and the pain subsided.

That was on a Sunday night and Monday during a time of prayer, several people laid hands on me and prayed and I haven’t had one moment of pain since then, praise God!

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart and He is mine forever. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.” (Psalm 73:26, 28) Emphasis added

“O Lord my God, I cried out to you for help, and you healed me and restored my health.” (Psalm 30:2)

We are also fervently praying now for many of our dear brother and sisters who are facing health challenges. Among them are Mario and Linda Solis, their family and especially their grandson Alex who is bravely battling cancer. We receive the updates on his condition and are inspired as we see the strong faith of Alex and his family during these critical days. We are joining our faith with theirs and others who need a miracle of healing.

Linda and Mario recently sent this note to me and with their permission I am including it here because I believe God wants to use it to build greater faith in all of us:

"Because of our faith in our Savior Jesus Christ who was risen miraculously from the dead and because of the power of His Name, we continue to pray and believe in miraculous healings and have witnessed many in our family over the past several years and continue to see them on a regular basis. This is due to our faith in a God who heals. Our peace is knowing that whether He chooses to heal us here and extend our life on earth or to heal us as we enter heaven...we win either way! We will continue to pray in faith asking for an earthly miraculous healing. We rejoice in Him always no matter what His final answer for ultimately through it all we draw closer to Him and understand the peace that only He can give us! We hope you will each join us in faith for healing and peace for Don and Alex and the many others battling cancer. Trusting always in our loving God, Linda and Mario Solis"

How is a Christian supposed to think and act in times like these? May I share with you what the Holy Spirit put on my heart during my devotional time a few mornings ago?

As I was praying for Alex and others who are facing major crises in their lives, The Holy Spirit took me back to 18 years ago when Ruthanne, our two sons Rod and Denny and I stood by our daughter Donna’s hospital bed and watched her peacefully slip from our arms into the arms of her loving Savior. Through our tears, Ruthanne and I softly said “Hallelujah!” We knew she had just received her ultimate healing and was now pain free forever and we would see her again in a much better place.

The night before she died, I was reminded of another father who had to release his child to God. Abraham was told to offer his son Isaac to God as an offering. I have tried to exercise that same kind of obedience Abraham demonstrated. Right at the last minute before Isaac was to die; God intervened and provided a substitute in the form of a Ram.

Praise God! Jesus became the Lamb of God to take away our sins and sicknesses. Through faith in Him, we have perfect access to God and His eternal home. Through our faith in Christ and His death on the cross we will never die! Worthy is the Lamb to receive, praise and worship through all eternity!

As we watched Donna die, we knew that she was not dead but more alive now than we were. We knew that, because of Donna’s faith in Jesus Christ, she would never die. No we were not, nor are we now, in denial. We knew her body was dead but we are convinced that her spirit and her soul, her true self, are alive with God in Heaven.

Children of God, those who repent of their sin and put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ, DO NOT DIE. They just go to sleep and wake up in the arms of God.

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS? If you don’t then perhaps you need to examine your personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and do what others have done. Maybe you need to repent and invite Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord, and then you will never die.

You may contact me at:  (408) 363-9547 LifeCoachDon@att.net You can read updates from my blog on my web site www.drdonphilliips.com or go directly to my blog: http://drdonletterofencouragement.blogspot.com/