Free Indeed

 

"Peaches"
Periwinkle Park
Sanibel Island

"Christ has set us free to enjoy our freedom. So remain strong in the faith. Don't let the chains of slavery hold you again." (Galatians 5:1)

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul reiterated that believers have freedom because of their rebirth through the Savior's work of salvation — a free gift of God's grace. Therefore, do not take on again the chains of law and self-works as means of acceptance before God. 

Jesus said, "You will know the truth. And the truth will set you free." (John 8:32). Jesus is the the truth. (John 14:6) Abide in Him, beloved, and enjoy freedom purchased by His blood.

"[God] is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins." (Ephesians 1:7)

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If I, Then He

 

"If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD am your healer." (Exodus 15:26)

On this path called life . . .  

If I never let loyalty and kindness leave me — write them on my heart, then I will find favor with both God and people. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

If I trust in the LORD with all my heart, do not depend on my own understanding, and seek God's will in all I do, then He will show me which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

If I'm not impressed with my own wisdom, but fear the LORD and turn away from evil, then I will have healing for my body and strength for my bones. (Proverbs 3:6-7)

If I honor the LORD with my wealth and with the best part of everything I produce, then He will fill my barns with grain, and my vats will overflow. (Proverbs 3:9-10)

And, beloved, if you will, too, then He will for you.

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Every Eye

 

sunset Sanibel Island

"Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see Him — even those who pierced Him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for Him. Yes! Amen!" (Revelation 1:7)

On any given day, every eye of the world sees the light of the sun. One day, every eye of the world will see the Light of the Son coming with the clouds of heaven.

Beloved, may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow . . . May He make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all His holy people. Amen! (1 Thess. 3:12-13)

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Indescribable Gift

 

"Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words." (2 Corinthians 9:15)

A treasured gift awaited me when we got home from Florida last night. The note read:

Hi Jill,

I ran across this afghan in the cedar chest, and I thought of you. My mom Evie Powers crocheted it so many years ago. Maybe you can use it when you go camping this fall. Enjoy.

God bless,

Marie

My dear friend, Marie, is 93. The handmade afghan is special; but as a gift from a 93-year-old friend, it's is a treasure. And the fact that her mother made it makes it priceless!

In His second letter to the Corinthians, Paul thanked God for a gift too wonderful for words. The gift? The person and work of Christ — God's indescribable gift. Beloved, have you thanked God for Jesus today?

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Missing Verse

 

Periwinkle Park Camp
Sanibel Island

"He Himself will deliver you from the hunter's net, from the destructive plague." (Psalm 91:3)

When praying Psalm 91 over our family, I always forget a verse — verse three. So today, I'm rehearsing it over and over and over again. Wanna memorize it with me, beloved?

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God's Glory On the Horizon

Sanibel Island sunset

"God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon . . . That's how God's word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith." (Psalm 19:6 The Message)

And all God's people said, "Amen!"

 

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Remembering

 

Sanibel Island

". . . I remember you, I think of you through the watches of the night." (Psalm 63:6)

This week, my Phillip and I are on Sanibel Island remembering our first date 50 years ago.

Today, I'm remembering my sweet Mama on her 101st birthday.

When David was in the Desert of Judah, he remembered God:

"You, God, are my God,

earnestly I seek You;

I thirst for You,

my whole being longs for You,

in dry and parched land

where there is no water . . .

Because Your love is better then life,

my lips will glorify You.

I will praise You as long as I live,

and in Your name I will lift up my hands . . .

On my bed I remember You;

I think of You through the watches of the night.

Because You are my help,

I sing in the shadow of Your wings."

(Psalm 63:1-6)

In a desert, beloved? Remember Jesus. Glorify Him. Praise Him. Sing in the shadow of His wings. And may the Lord turn your parched desert into a cool-watered garden.

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When Children Pray

 

Clear Creek Christian School

"Is anyone among you sick? . . . the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up . . . " (James 5:14-15)

This school picture appears typical — students, teachers, a building. What's happening in the picture, however, is exceptional. The students and teachers were praying for their principal, who was having serious surgery today. 

The doctor was very pleased with the outcome and what he said would take a miracle to happen happened. Thank You, Lord Jesus, and thank You for praying, faith-filled children.

Do you have child-like faith in Almighty God, beloved?

Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew18:3)

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Today's Chuckle

 

"A merry heart does good like medicine."  ~ Proverbs 17:22

From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere. ~ Dr. Seuss

He that is of merry heart has a continual feast. ~ Proverbs 15:15

A good laugh is sunshine in the house. ~ William Thackeray

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~ Phyllis Diller

As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul. ~ Jewish Proverb

The joy of the Lord is your strength. ~ Nehemiah 8:10)

Smile, beloved, it increases your face value. ~ unknown

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Trust

 

Mama and Daddy
1980s?

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)

Now that's what I call trust — stepping into a small aircraft piloted by your husband with a smile on your face.

Beloved, our peace of mind is in direct proportion to our trust in the Lord Almighty. Jesus, take the wheel!

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Beautiful Things

my Ben, grandboys, and friends

"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious — the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (Philippians 4:8 The Message)

Grandkids

Butterflies

Fishing

Wildflowers

Lightning bugs

Summer nights

Ocean waves

Hummingbirds

Holding hands

Sunsets

Waterfalls

Jesus

Just a few beautiful things for you to think about today. Have a blessed day with Jesus, beloved.

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Taste and See

 

Grandboys

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him." (Psalm 34:8)

According to the Moody Bible Commentary, the invitation in Psalm 34:8, in poetical terms, is to experience the goodness of the Lord. 

Beloved, my prayer is that you will experience God's goodness today, tomorrow, and in all your days to come. 

For "the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry." (Psalm 34:15)

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By Design

 

cover designer
(my Ben)

"See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." (Hebrews 8:5)

My son, Ben, has designed all but two of my book covers. Yesterday, I was fascinated watching him finalize The Window at Willow Springs cover.

The Bible is a book of design. In Genesis 1 and 2, the heavens and earth are created by God's design. In Genesis chapter 6, the ark is built according to God's detailed design. In Exodus, the tabernacle is intricately constructed according to God's heavenly design. Psalm 39, tells us that you and I were designed and made by the very hands of God.

In all that we do, beloved, let us seek God and His design.

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What Heaven's Like

Rocky, Mark, and me
Christmas 1963

"Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And they sang a new song . . . " (Revelation 5:8-9)

From soon-to-be-released The Window at Willow Springs:

The living room glowed in Christmas-tree and fire light. Mark and I sprawled on the floor with our heads stuck under the tree, looking up through the branches. It smelled like a pine forest.

Rocky walked by. “What are y’all doing?”

“Looking at the lights,” Mark said.

I scooted closer to Mark. “Come see, Rocky.”

He dropped down beside us, and we stared at the green, red, blue, and gold twinkles. The fire hissed in the fireplace.

I twirled a foil star. “Is this what heaven’s like?” 

“Whatcha mean?” Rocky asked.

“Safe and happy and beautiful with the people you love?”

He looked at me and then back at the tree. “Yeah, I think so.”

     

". . . You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation . . . Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. They said with a loud voice:

The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!

I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say:

Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

(Revelation 5:9-14)

And that, beloved, is what heaven's like.

 

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Season of Singing

"Look around you: Winter is over;
the winter rains are over, gone!
Spring flowers are in blossom all over!"

"The whole world's a choir and singing!
Spring warblers are filling the forest 
with sweet strains."

"Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed,
and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms."

"My beloved [Jesus] is mine and I am His."
(Song of Solomon 2 The Message)


Sing, beloved!

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Grace

 

"Rascal"
from The Window at Willow Springs
by talented artist Anya Figert

"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)

Combing through the publisher's revisions in The Window at Willow Springs manuscript, I'm beseeching God's grace to find mistakes before the book goes to print.

"Grace" in 2 Corinthians 9:8 is the Greek word "charis," meaning the divine influence upon the heart — God's enablement or favor, if you will. His giving that which is not deserved. 

Today, beloved, ask God for divine grace to do the work set before you. He is able to supply in abundance your needs for the task.

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Spike the Snake

grandboys and granddaddy

"You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet." (Psalm 91:13)

Easter afternoon, Granddaddy invented a new game to develop the grandboys' spikeball skills: spike the snake. The goal was to hit  a rubber cobra with the spikeball and make it jump off the net. They loved it!

Psalm 91, a song of God's protection and victory over the enemy, is sometimes called the Soldier's Psalm. In World War I, the 91st Brigade recited the 91st Psalm daily. Although these soldiers engaged in three of the bloodiest battles, the 91st Brigade suffered no combat-related deaths. Other units had up to 90% casualties.

Each night before going to sleep, Phillip and I pray Psalm 91 over our family — our kids and grandkids.  Beloved, memorize Psalm 91, meditate on it, and pray it out loud for your family. It could be a matter of life or death.

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Fishin'

 

Ben and big mama bass

And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)

The good thing about the Coosa flooding out of its banks? It pours fish into our pond. Our Ben caught a whopper yesterday.

The good thing about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ? It catches hearts for all eternity. Let's go fishin', beloved!

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Nine to Sunday

L-R Mark, me, and Rocky
Easter Sunday, my 2nd birthday
1958

Then the soldiers nailed Him to the cross. They divided His clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece. It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified Him.

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing."

One of the criminals hanging beside Him scoffed, "So you're the Messiah, are You? Prove it by saving Yourself —and us, too, while you're at it!"

But the other criminal protested, "Don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this Man hasn't done anything wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom."

And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise."

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. Then at three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means "My God, My God, why have you abandoned Me?"

Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it to His lips. When Jesus tasted it, He said, "It is finished!" Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened.

The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, "This man truly was the Son of God!"

Early on Sunday morning as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and sat on it.

The angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead!"

(From the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

Up from the grave He arose

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain

And He lives forever with His saints to reign

He arose!

He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose! 1

1 CHRIST AROSE. Robert Lowry, 1874.

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Sobbed

grandkids 
Easter 2010

"But as He came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, [Jesus] wept." (Luke 19:41)

Twice in Scripture Jesus wept. In John 11:35, Jesus wept when Lazarus died. The Greek word here for wept is "dakruo," meaning shed a tear. In Luke 19:41, when Jesus wept coming into Jerusalem before His crucifixion, the Greek word for wept is "klaio," meaning to sob or wail aloud.

Jesus bewailed, "How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, the peace is hidden from your eyes . . . because you did not recognize it when God visited you." (Luke 19:42-44)

Don't miss the only way to peace, beloved. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

 

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