It's a MYSTERY!
>> Thursday, May 29, 2014
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Beauty in Time
>> Wednesday, May 28, 2014
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Two of my sweet boys, 2014 |
"I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart." (Jer. 24:7)
What sometimes happens when a sweet, little boy collides with adolescence? At our house, it was chaos, pandemonium, bedlam, and commotion, to say the least. I wanted an instant cure for this strange disease called rebellion; but, it would be over a thing called TIME that God would "heal", restore, and return hearts to Himself.
"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:13-14)
O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, resolve to wait on the One who makes everything beautiful in its TIME (Ecc. 3:11).
June Women's Bible study: The Prodigal's Mother
For more information contact me at: misjill413@aol.com for times and locations.
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Healing Salve for a Stomped Heart
>> Tuesday, May 27, 2014
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Our newest baby-grand, 2014 |
Jesus said, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." (John 16:33)
Nothing is sweeter than a newborn baby against his mother's cheek, and nothing's more painful, than a prodigal child. When my children were small, a Sunday School teacher told me, "Jill, when they're little, they'll step on your toes, but when they're older, they"ll step on your heart." As the mother of teenagers, I often remembered those words on the days when it felt like my heart had been stomped in the dirt.
Jesus warned that we will suffer in this world; however, He encouraged His own to have peace and courage because He has conquered the world (and is even more powerful than a prodigal's attitude)! Through the Bible, the Lord offers hope, strength, courage, and instructions to lovers of prodigals.
June Women's Bible study: The Prodigal's Mother
For more information contact me at: misjill413@aol.com for times and locations.
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Koinonia
>> Thursday, May 22, 2014
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It's a Big Boy!!!
>> Wednesday, May 21, 2014
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Colton "Colt" Alexander Glassco |
"Every thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights." (James 1:17)
Colton Alexander Glassco
Born: May 20, 2014, 5:52 p.m.
8 pounds 12 ounces
21.5"
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for our beautiful GIFT!
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Faithful Friends
>> Monday, May 19, 2014
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Debora, Dawn, and me at Debora's son's wedding, 2014 (Two of our many wonderful friends) |
"... a real friend sticks closer than a brother." (Prov. 18:24)
This week is big for our family - Phillip's nephew, our Rebecca, and our grands are here, the new grandbaby's birth is scheduled tomorrow, our other sweet daughter-in-law is having surgery on Friday, and through it all, precious friends are praying for us!
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for faithful friends! Have you thanked God for your friends today?
Crazy Friday
>> Friday, May 16, 2014
My favorite son-in-law and 2 of the grands, 2010ish
"But God is not the author of confusion but of peace." (1 Cor. 14:33)
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This morning, I went with my Ben and Gabbi to an ultrasound appointment (babygrand is due TOMORROW, by the way!). For hours, the decision volleyed back and forth, back and forth, between inducing labor today or next week, today or next week, today... until finally the decision landed in the next week court.
I imagined God looking down and just smiling, because He has known the day, hour, and minute of Colt's arrival since before time began. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world." (Eph. 1:3-4)
I'll keep you "posted" on our blessed event! Please help me pray for a happy and healthy delivery! Thank you!!!!
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Editing, Editing, Editing
>> Thursday, May 15, 2014
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photo by my talented, sweet Rebecca
"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Jesus Christ returns!" (Phil. 1:6)
"Sunlight kissed the cool, morning air changing dewdrops to diamonds on the spider webs crocheted through the night." I can't tell you how many times I've reworded that sentence from chapter 3 of Hoot Owl Hollow. In fact, I edited it again today to use on this post and will continue editing the manuscript until it is finally finished on that day it goes to print.
Oh, how marvelous, oh how wonderful that God erases, changes, and rewrites our stories over and over and over again until we are finally finished on the day Jesus Christ returns!
Made mistakes this week? Repent and rejoice, O Christian! The Author of our Faith is at work - blotting out and re-scripting our do-overs!
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Your Own Generation
>> Wednesday, May 14, 2014
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My Dan, my little nephew, and my brother Three Generations |
"For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid among his fathers." (Acts 13:36)
When God endowed my son, Ben, with incredible artistic ability, it was not so he could merely draw and sculpt well. His God-given talent is so he can serve God's purposes in his own generation.
Ben's "Hand of God", 2005
"But now, O Lord, You are the Father, we are the clay, and You our Potter; and all of us are the work of your hand." (Isa. 64:8)
Ben's "Joe" for Hoot Owl Hollow
O Christian, we are God's masterpieces, created for good works to serve God's purposes in our own generations and bring glory to Him! So what's on your "to-do" list today?
Tossed About
>> Tuesday, May 13, 2014
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Two Thumbs Up! for Moms' Night Out
>> Monday, May 12, 2014
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My grands, all dressed for piano recital (Princess is dressed in her cousin's flower girl dress from her parent's wedding. My how time flies!) |
"An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels." (Prov. 31:10)
Although alike in many ways, my daughter and I are complete opposites when it comes to celebrating Mother's Day. Each year, Rebecca's sweet husband makes her a reservation at a beautiful state park for a 24-hour get-away - a time of rest, reflection, refreshment, and renewal alone. (If my family ever drops me off at a state park all by my lonesome, they'll see this mama in the rearview mirror chasing after the car crying, "Come back! Please don't leave me!")
For my Mother's Day celebration, my hubby, boys, and daughters-in-law took me to the movie: Moms' Night Out. This hilarious comedy is well-done, God-honoring, kid-friendly, and sends a great message. Definitely a two thumbs up and must see!!!
(Moms' Night Out: filmed in our own Birmingham, Alabama and produced by the Erwin brothers - makers of October Baby. Now in theaters near you!)
Happy belated Mother's Day!
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Save our Children!
>> Friday, May 9, 2014
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My Rebecca, Stephen, and first baby-grand, 2006 |
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world!
Several years ago while talking to my children about kids at church, I said, "Those are the sweetest children. I wonder what they'll be like as teenagers." Dan answered with insight beyond his eleven years, "You just never know. They can be sweet as anything as children, but when they get to be teenagers...you just never know!"
Something that makes me madder than a wet hen in a rainstorm, is seeing a sweet, young life lured by the devil, the world, and the flesh into a garbage pit of sin and destruction! We hear save the whales! Save the ivory-billed woodpecker! But what about save our children!?!?
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour! But resist him firm in your faith..." (1 Peter 5:8-9)
The Lord is fanning into flame a passion to safeguard as many children as possible through fervent prayer, unconditional love, and the powerful Word of God!
Father God wants YOU! Join the "save our children" crusade today!
The Real Hoot Owl Hollow
>> Thursday, May 8, 2014
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Graduation Day!
>> Wednesday, May 7, 2014
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My Senior Portrait, 1974 |
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Senior Prom My Phillip and me, April 1974 |
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Senior Play Me as "Miss Spindle" May 1974
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"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim. 4:7)
Forty springs ago, I graduated from Fort Payne High School. Today, I graduated from radiation treatments.
Whatever course life brings, stick with Jesus. He'll see you through to the very end. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
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Fortitude!
>> Tuesday, May 6, 2014
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Beaver Dam on our farm |
"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus." (Heb. 12:1-2)
A couple of weeks ago, my Phillip broke up a small beaver dam on the north end of our fishing pond. Five days later, we discovered that those busy-beavers had rebuilt a stronger and much larger dam!
The dictionary defines fortitude as: mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously, or the strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage!
In resilience, endurance, backbone, and true grit, beavers truly are creatures of fortitude.
O Lord Jesus, in my readers' difficulties, adversities and pains, please give them the fortitude of the beavers! (And in the burns, rashes, and fatigue of final radiation treatments, please also help me to be courageous and resilient!) Read more...
Constant Presence of God
>> Monday, May 5, 2014
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Saturday's fiery sunrise over the Coosa River (photo by my superman) |
"The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness." (Psalm 105:39)
At our river cabin early Saturday morning, my Phillip captured this fiery sunrise through the thick morning mist over the Coosa River - a heavenly reminder of the constant Presence of God.
O Christian, the Lord is your Keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and coming in from this time forth and forever (Psalm 121:5,7-8).
Therefore, be anxious for nothing (Phil. 4:6), because the Lord is your Refuge and your Fortress, your God in whom you trust. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark (Psalm 91:2,4).
God Loves 5th and 6th Graders!
>> Friday, May 2, 2014
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"Samba" (Photo by my Rebecca)
"Get up and stand up on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you my minister and witness..." (Acts 26:16)
While my Ben draws the illustrations for my soon to be released Hoot Owl Hollow, my Rebecca hunts down and shoots (with a camera that is) models for some of the pictures. Samba is the perfect model for "Joe", the chocolate lab sleeping at Sam's feet, don't you think?
Yesterday, my trip to Cornerstone Christian School was a real "ah-ha!" moment for me. Why am I working day after week after year writing Christian storybooks? It's because God loves 5th and 6th graders, and He's creatively drawing children unto Himself through stories! Wow! Now how cool is that?
Dear Christian, are you up? Are you standing on your feet? God has appeared unto you, as well, for the purpose of being His minister and witness to somebody! Time's a wastin', so let's get going!
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:19-20)
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Potential!
>> Thursday, May 1, 2014
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5th and 6th graders Cornerstone Christian School |
"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!" (1 Cor. 9:24)
Today, while visiting 5th and 6th graders at Cornerstone Christian School, I stood before a bright sea of potential - God's masterpieces, created in Christ Jesus for good works He planned long ago (Eph. 2:10).
In the race of life, each of these children will encounter the crossroads between the narrow way with Jesus which leads to abundant life and and the broad way of the world - a certain road to potential's death.
O Lord Jesus, Son of God and Great Shepherd,
Please lead every precious boy and girl I met today down Your path of righteousness for Your name's sake. I pray they will love You, obey Your voice, and hold fast to You all the days of their lives! Help them to serve You with whole hearts and willing minds. Empower them with every good thing to do the good work You've assigned to them, and enable them to stay the course, keep the faith, and finish well the race of life for Your glory!
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen and amen.
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