The Rescuers

My Dan, Rebecca, and Ben as
Daniel, Miriam holding baby Moses, and a lion from the den
Fall Church Festival, 1987

"...we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope! And He will yet deliver us!" (2 Cor. 1:8b-10)


      One of my all-time favorite Disney animated films is The Rescuers - a story of two tiny, Rescue Aid Society mice, Bernard and Bianca, who embark on a mission to rescue Penny, an orphan girl held prisoner in the Devil's Bayou by the eeeevil Madame Medusa!
       The most thrilling rescue stories, however, are found along the pages of the Holy Bible. In the book of Daniel, when King Darius the Mede was tricked into sentencing Daniel to the lions' den, Scripture records that he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every effort until sundown to deliver him. Darius failed, but Almighty God, the True Rescuer, sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths!
       In Exodus, a young Hebrew girl named Miriam watched over her baby brother floating in a wicker basket on the Nile River until he was rescued by Pharaoh's daughter. That baby, as we know, grew up to be Moses - God's chosen one to rescue an entire nation from Egyptian slavery!
       In a recent issue of "In Touch" magazine, Dr. Charles Stanley tells the greatest rescue story ever:

        "Whether good or bad, our deeds don't determine where we will spend eternity. Apart from the Lord, no one is righteous - not a single person has done enough good to earn a place in heaven. But the Father loves us and wants us to live with Him eternally. So before the creation of the world, He planned solution.
         The rescue plan was simple - a perfect sacrifice had to be made for mankind's sin so that every one could be blameless before a holy God. By accepting this sacrifice on his or her own behalf, any individual would receive a new nature to replace the corrupted one. In addition, the Holy Spirit would indwell that person to provide truth and guidance.
         The sacrifice was Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, bearing all our sin. When we trust Him as Savior, our "flesh" nature dies with Him. The Holy Spirit comes to make our hearts new so we can find joy in obeying God. We are rescued and set free!"

     Are you in need of rescue today? Cry out to Jesus and trust Him to be your Rescuer!

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MOTO Run

My Dan in US Marine Moto Run, 2004

"Let us run with patience..."
(Heb. 12:1)


        On Parris Island, Family Day of the long-awaited bootcamp graduation  for Marine recruits begins with a motivational run referred to as the "MOTO Run" - a 4-mile course through four training battalions plus the Support Battalion. Selected recruits ring the Battalion Bell as the Company runs by singing cadence, signaling successful completion of Recruit Training.

My Dan, graduation day, 2004
Iwo Jima Memorial, Parris Island

         Running patiently is difficult for me. When Jesus gives an assignment, I tend to sprint full steam ahead, desperately eager to reach the goal line. But I'm learning that only in God's perfect time will that work be completed. 
         Therefore, let us trust Jesus to complete the good work He begins (Phil 1:6), wait patiently for Him, and fret not (Psalm 37:7). Because if we will run with patience, not grow weary while doing good, and not lose heart, then in due season, at God's appointed time, we will reap (Gal. 6:9) a mission accomplished for the glory of God (John 17:4)!

Iraqui Freedom Mission
My Dan, 2009

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My Love Stories :)

Our wedding day, Sept. 10, 1977

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." 
(Matt. 22:37)





      On Grand Ave. N. in Fort Payne, Alabama, the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches sit side by side. On a spring night in 1971, while our youth group was playing whiffle ball in the churchyard, a couple of Baptist boys came over to "see what they could see." (smile)
       Being a typical 15-year-old, southern girl, I was playing ball barefooted. At the end of the game, a 6'1", blue-eyed Baptist scooped me into his strong arms and carrying me across the parking lot so the gravel wouldn't hurt my feet. Six years later, I married that handsome boy - the second love of my life.
       Phillip is my number two love only because Jesus Christ holds first place. As a fifth-grader, I realized my need for a Savior and at a Billy Graham film in the DeKalb Theatre, asked God for His free gift of eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus. However, years and years would pass before I treated Jesus as my first love. 

        In a message to the Church of Ephesus in Revelation chapter 2, Jesus said, "I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance...but I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember your dear love and repent - turn back to Me!"

        O believer in Jesus Christ, is He truly your first love? Do you go to church, read your Bible, and pray because you're supposed to or because you long to spend time with the Love of your life? Let us spend time with our Jesus everyday and fall deeply in love with our Savior and Lord!



Snippet from Secrets of Shiloh (a Christian Storybook for families):

Their long, unhurried walk ended, to her surprise, at the cemetery behind Liberty Chapel. The Colonel opened the gate of the picket fence and said, “Did you know people are just dying to get in here!”

Rachel laughed and said, “Now that’s funny!”

Col. James led his loyal friend to an older section of the graveyard and pointed out the headstones of his parents and grandparents. Then he suggested, “Let’s go sit over there on that bench for a little while.” Rachel noticed that he looked tired and rather pale, but the old warrior never complained.

 “Rachel, I’ve shared many things with you over the years, but I regret that I’ve failed to share the most valuable part of my life – my relationship with God. Tough, old birds from my generation keep our faith to ourselves, and that’s not good. Well, I want to change that today...Rachel, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died in my place to take the punishment for my many sins. I’ve gotten to know Him over the years the same way you get to know anybody – by spending time together. Everyday, I hear His voice through the Bible, and I talk to Him through prayer. As a matter of fact, I pray for you and Martin all the time, and I’m sorry that I’ve never even told you that. I know things have been hard for you and your mama since your dad died. But, Rachel, life is hard in some way or another for everybody. Don’t become imprisoned by your problems like I was, but live in freedom by faith in God through Jesus – trusting Him in every situation." 

     

        

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The Lawyer and the Farmer

The lawyer and the farmer
(My daddy and his huntin' buddy, Dan Walker, 1980s)

"Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed!" (Psalm 112:1-2)


       As far back as I can remember, Dan Walker was my daddy's huntin' buddy - two men from the generation that, instead of "finding themselves", found a job. They served their country and their families. Their first wife was the only wife till parted by death. They feared God. Their children and grandchildren respected them.

      Last Friday, Raymond Freeman of that great, God-fearing generation entered eternity and saw the face of his Lord Jesus Christ. Well done, O man of God!

     May all who come behind us find us faithful!

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The Jesus of Steel Magnolias

My great-grandparents' 50th anniversary, 1950

"One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts!" (Psalm 145:4)

        During the Great Depression of the 1930s, my great-grandmother literally did not have a dime to buy a pair of badly-needed shoes, but Jesus sustained.
        While in their 20s, my grandfather died of pneumonia leaving my grandmother to rear and provide for two small children, and Jesus supplied.
        While my father served overseas during World War II, my mother contracted tuberculosis and resided in a TB sanatorium until her full recovery. Jesus strengthened.  
        Three generations of steel magnolias sustained, supplied, and strengthened by their God, the Lord Jesus Christ, blazed a note-worthy walk-by-faith trail for generations to follow.

My family, 2008
The next three generations

             I'm a grandmother, now. "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not see the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread...For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones; they are preserved forever...For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations!" (Psalm 37:25,28, Psalm 100:5)

             May all who come behind us find us faithful!

         
           

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Undeniable Evidence

Alabama Cotton Field

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come!" (2 Cor. 5:17)


           In October, snow-white fields...after fields...after fields of cotton can be found along the country roads of south Shelby County in Alabama - undeniable evidence that, months ago, cotton seeds were sown changing dirt to valuable crops.  
          Dr. Luke tells the story in Acts chapter 19 that when sorcerers believed Jesus was the Christ, they burned their magic books of incantations. The magicians' bonfire was undeniable evidence of changed lives.

           For all of us who claim to be Christian, I ask, "What is the undeniable evidence that we are in Christ? Have the old things passed away? Have new things come? Have our lives changed?"

"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit...Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions." (Matt. 7:15-20)

          

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Lip Lock!

Dr. and Mrs. Igou and me
Smoky Mt. Camp Ground, 1964

"Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips." (Psalm 141:3)


      Look at my mouth - wide open and talking 90 miles an hour - in this picture of me as an eight-year-old. My granddaddy once offered me a nickel if I'd be quiet for 10 minutes!

      Yesterday, I let careless words spew from my mouth that hurt a precious friend's feelings. I'm so grateful for God's forgiveness and hers!

      Do you ever let harmful words slip from your lips or is that sin unique to me alone? If you've spoken things you regret, I urge you to initiate the reconciliation process IMMEDIATELY - go quickly to the one you've offended and plead for forgiveness.

"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord!" (Acts 3:19)

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and  my Redeemer!" (Psalm 19:14)

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Proverbs 31...Cupcakes?

"An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life!" (Prov. 31:10-12)


      When employees struggled to meet monthly goals, the Lord gave a creative idea to the boss's wife (who "just happens" to love cooking). The Lord prompted, "In addition to prayer, do something special for the workers who meet their goals. Bake giant, homemade cupcakes and wrap them in special packages with a personal note of thanks for a job well done."
       In just four short months, that job site progressed from unranked to #2 in production! Through my dear friend's obedience, she not only encouraged those employees, but she also came along side her husband, doing him good, as his godly help-mate.

       Let us all listen for the Lord's promptings today! And then use the talents He's given us to bless others in Jesus' name!

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise!" (Prov. 31:30-31)
       

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Power Moves for Champion Wrestlers!

My Rebecca "wrestling" her brothers, Dan and Ben, at her own wedding! 2004

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly     places! (Eph. 6:1-12)


       My Phillip was a champion wrestler in high school. So when our children were mire toddlers, he taught them to "wrastle" - even our daughter Rebecca! More importantly, my wise, godly husband also taught our children to use champion moves when engaged in spiritual battles. If Phillip sensed an attack of darkness, he'd lead the family in singing, "There is power, power, wonder-working power, in the precious blood of the Lamb!"
       Yesterday, after conversations with each of our now-adult children, I sensed that every Phillip Glassco family household was under enemy attack either physically or emotionally. This morning, I texted, "Sing, children, sing!"

       Dear friends, Jesus Christ, the Lord of Hosts, commands His team to "be on the alert. Our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But [we must] resist [wrestle] him firm in our faith" (1 Peter 5:8-9). 

I urge you to master two powerful moves of spiritual champions: 
1. Proclaiming the power of Jesus' blood and 
2. Singing songs of praise to Almighty God!

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood!
Would you o'er evil a victory win?
There's wonderful pow'r in the blood!

There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r
In the precious blood of the Lamb! 1

1 THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD. Lewis E. Jones. 1899.

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The No-Worries Mate

My Rebecca and Stephen - God's chosen mate
April 3, 2004

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything! Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done." 
(Phil. 4:6)


          From the time my children were babies, I asked God to choose their mates according to His good will and perfect plans. When they "came of age" to date, I wish I could tell you that my faith in Father God never wavered. However, at times I did worry, but I also prayed...and prayed...and prayed...and prayed.
            In 2003, I witnessed the Lord change, in mid-stream, the course of my daughter's life to bring her Stephen - the perfect choice, no-worries mate who had been her best friend since 7th grade!

            What are you worried about today? Confess and repent of unbelief. PRAY to and thank Jesus - the ONE who has the best plans and is able to bring them to fruition! 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for choosing Stephen as the perfect answer to my 22 years of prayers!

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Put 'em Back the Way They Wuz!

Cast of Li'l Abner, senior play, 2000
my Rebecca as "Daisy Mae" (center, in her Grandmother Watson's white blouse)

"Belief in Jesus is a miracle produced only by the effectiveness of redemption, not by impressive speech, nor by wooing and persuading, but only by the sheer unaided power of God! The creative power of redemption comes through the preaching of the gospel, but never because of the personality of the preacher." ~ Oswald Chambers ~

          Her senior year, my Rebecca played Daisy Mae in the musical "Li'l Abner". One of the most entertaining numbers in that play is "Put 'em Back the Way They Wuz!"

          Ephesians 1:7 states that people in relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ have REDEMPTION through Jesus's blood according to the riches of His grace. The Lord Jesus Christ literally paid His own blood on the cross to buy you back from the damnation of your own sins so that He might restore you back to all God designed you to be!
          
          Jesus sets His followers free from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and one day the very presence of sin! O child of the King, you are FREE indeed!

"It is for FREEDOM that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery!" (Gal. 5:1)

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Unshackled!!!

My grandchildren running free, autumn 2011
(photo by my Rebecca)


"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake...and immediately all the doors were opened
and everyone's chains were unfastened!"
                                            (Acts 15:25-26)

         Yesterday, my wise husband casually commented, "Isn't it good to know that your storybooks are exactly at the place God wants them to be." 

           Hmmm, what's this, I thought, as I shifted the chain hanging heavily about my neck, trying to get more comfortable.

           "That the annoying chain of CONTROL," the Lord gently whispered. "Ever since I gave you this storybooks assignment, you do what I tell you to do, but then you struuuuuuggle and strrrrrrrain - laboring to produce the outcome. That's My job, remember? Your job is to listen, obey, pray, and enjoy the ride!"

           Immediately, that chain fell off. "Whew! That feels better, Lord!"

            "Your welcome, Jill."

      What has you shackled? Addiction? Anger? Jealousy? Bitterness? Unforgiveness? Sexual immorality? Control? or something else? "Rise up, O captive [sons and daughters]; loose the chains  from your neck (Isa. 52:2)! "Let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us RUN with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus" (Heb. 12:1-2)!

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Hey Cow!

Cows in the countryside, Shelby County, Alabama
(one looked at us!)

"Don't copy the behavior...of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect...Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to...you." (Rom. 12:2-3)

         One of my Rebecca's favorite games as a teen and still today is "hey cow". Game Rules: when riding by a cow pasture, roll down the car window and yell, "Hey cow!" One point is earned for every cow that looks at you (and is probably thinking, people are SO weird!).
          This week, I had a couple of "hey mama!" moments that got my attention! I'd asked for prayers regarding this morning's interview on abc 33/40's "Talk of Alabama", and out of the mouths of two of my babes, all grown up, came:

          "Hey Mama!" my Ben said. "You know when you worry about how you'll sound or what you'll say, you're really thinking about yourself. Just focus on God and what He wants to say through you!"

          "Hey Mama!" Rebecca emailed. "A while back, I wrote something that might help your insecurities and self-criticism of your southern accent, etc. I hope it encourages you." 
         Rebecca wrote: 

         Very, very few times have I known that God spoke to me. 
         But a few weeks ago, I'm sure it was God
         speaking directly to me. 

         I'd been worrying about disappointing someone. I felt like I'd
         let them down, and the world was disapproving of my
         actions. So I told myself, Rebecca, you have an audience of
         One. It doesn't matter what other people think about you. 
         You're not performing for people, you are performing for
         God...Then a jolt stopped me in mid-thought, and God 
         clearly said, "I am not the audience, REBECCA. YOU'RE
         THE AUDIENCE."

         The burden I'd carried for so long had been vanquished. No
         longer am I held captive by the pressures of performing for 
         anyone - not even for God! [Jesus is center stage.] I'm the
         audience, and all I have to do is respond to Him and the work 
         He is doing!

         Hey Friends! I'm passing on to you my children's wise advice: Don't worry, focus on Jesus, and enjoy the work He has set before you!

"Therefore...let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith!" (Heb. 12:1-2)

           

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Need a Lift?

Phillip working to lift a huge limb out of the creek

"He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord!" (Psalm 40:2-3)

         A few weeks ago, a giant red oak crashed to the ground on our farm. In the picture above, Phillip is working to get just one limb of that big tree out of the creek. A heavy chain and powerful tractor easily lifted what man could not. And God has done the same for every believer in Jesus Christ. 

         Every single man, woman, boy, or girl born on this earth dwells in the muddy pit of our own sin. It is written: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). That pit is a grave of death, and there is NO way for us to get ourselves out! But God offers each of us a lift - the free gift of eternal life through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Hear this, my friend, Jesus died so you might live! "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (Eph. 1:7).

        Recently, I came face to face with someone accused of committing a heinous crime. Deep within my own soul, I wrestled with the question: Do I really believe in the sufficiency of Jesus' blood? Do I really trust that the blood of Jesus is able and enough to pay for the darkest scarlet sin? My conclusion? YES!!!  YES!!!  YES!!!

"[God] has not dealt with [any of] us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities! For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward [all] those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:10-12). "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name...who has pardoned ALL our iniquities...who redeems our life from the pit" (Psalm 103:1-3)!

        Dear one, know, understand, and believe that the blood of Jesus is adequate to cleanse away ALL your sins! Believe on Jesus Christ today!

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