First Place: Double Oak Mt. Pharmacy!

My Dan (left side, red socks) early 1990s

"(Jesus) is the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." (Col. 1:18)


             As children, my Dan and Joseph Feick were friends and teammates on the Jets soccer team that one year won first place in the state tournament - State Champions, baby! (I'm hunting for that Kodak moment and hope to add that picture later.)

             All grown up now, Joseph is the best pharmacist in the state of Alabama (in my estimation), and his store, Double Oak Mt. Pharmacy,

Pharmacist Joseph Feick

won first place in getting Hoot Owl Hollow on the local market! Hip-hip-hurray for Double Oak Mt. Pharmacy, and thank you most kindly, Joseph!!!

            All that to say, for all the first place trophies won around the globe, Jesus Christ alone merits first place in everything!

Is Jesus #1 in your heart?

            

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Woe is Me!

"Mr. Greenleaf's" goldfish pond

"For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel." (1 Cor. 9:16)

            Even though my latest storybook, Hoot Owl Hollow, was released only two weeks ago, I'm already working feverishly on storybook #4: Mr. Greenleaf's Unforgettable Summer. Like the apostle Paul, I am under compulsion, and woe is me if I do not write Christian family storybooks!

What is God compelling you to do? Are you doing it?


Preview from Mr. Greenleaf's Unforgettable Summer:

Chapter 1

Mr. Greenleaf’s Not-So-Typical Day

            Mr. Greenleaf had lived beside the goldfish pond in Mrs. Willowkins’ flower garden as long as he could remember – which wasn’t too, very long since jumping and hopping, not recollecting, are a tree frog’s strong suits. Hidden behind one stone south and two rocks west of the waterfall, his tiny cave provided shade from summer sun, shield from wind and rain, and shelter from winter’s bitter cold.

“A pleasanter cottage a froggie is yet to find,” J. Jehoshaphat Greenleaf estimated.

            A typical “day” for Mr. Greenleaf began when the sun slid under Double Oak Mountain and stars sparkled over Blue Heron Lake, because tree frogs are strictly nocturnal, you see – sleeping in sunshine and hunting and leaping and singing and playing in the dark of night. So our story begins once upon a summer sunset…

Twilight had faded to owllight, and the cricket choir sang a spirited tune to the beat of bullfrog bellows rising from the big lake below the Willowkins’ small fishpond. Mr. Geenleaf opened his black peepers and slowly stretched his slim, lime legs.

Time for breakfast, he thought and then hopped through the small crevice to a narrow ledge above the pool. When a mosquito buz-z-z-z-z-zed by, out darted his long, sticky tongue, and breakfast was done.

Mr. Greenleaf’s Unforgettable Summer Copyright © 2014 Jill Watson Glassco

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Go, Tigers, Geaux!

L-R My Dan, my Mandy, my Gabbi, and my Ben
Football season 2008

"For the wages of sin is death, but the FREE GIFT of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 6:23 NLT) 

"God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a GIFT from God." (Eph. 2:8)

         At an early morning meeting at Church of the Highlands today, the speaker asked, "Who in here is both an Auburn fan and an LSU fan?" When my Phillip and I raised our hands, he gave us an incredible FREE GIFT: two tickets to this fall's Auburn vs. LSU football game! Woo Hoo!! 

(I mean War Eagle/Geaux Tigers!)

         Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ died on a cross in your place and mine so that we might have God's FREE GIFT of forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with Him forever. We don't deserve it. We can't earn it. We can only gratefully receive His FREE GIFT by faith in His Son - believing and trusting in Jesus.

  Have you received Father God's 

FREE GIFT 

of everlasting 

LIFE

through

FAITH

in

JESUS CHRIST?

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Father Nature

Our grands in "Nature" 

"Then the Lord answered... from the whirlwind, 'Who questions My wisdom with such ignorant words?... Where were  you when I laid the foundations of the earth?... and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?" (Job 38:1-7 NLT)








              Our grandchildren have a favorite climbing tree near their house that our granddaughter named Nature. Looking at this enormous white pine holding my precious little ones in her arms, I marvel at the wondrous Creator: Father God. 

               The next time anyone attributes the splendors of the universe to "Mother Nature," may we quickly lament as Job did and confess, "I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me... I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance." (Job. 42:3-6 NLT)

"Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens!

Praise the Lord from the skies!...

Praise Him, sun and moon!

Praise Him, all you twinkling stars!...

Let every created thing give praise to the Lord,

for He issued His command, and they came into being.

He set them in place forever and ever.

His decree will never be revoked.

Praise the Lord from the earth,

you creatures of the ocean depths,

fire and hail, snow and clouds,

wind and weather that obey Him,

mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all livestock,

smal; scurrying animals and birds,

kings of the earth and all people,

rulers and judges of the earth,

young men and young women,

old men and children.

Let them all praise the name of the Lord.

For His name is very great;

His glory towers over the earth and heaven!

(Psalm 148:1-13 NLT)

           

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Friends Forever

Our Stephen baptizing our precious granddaughter

Jesus said, "Now you are My friends." (John 15:15b NLT)

         Yesterday, with great joy, we witnessed our one and only son-in-law baptize our one and only granddaughter - an outward expression of her inward decision to love and follow Jesus.

      Last week, I searched a bazillion stores for something special for her to remember that special day. When I spotted a simple necklace that read "friends forever," I believe Lord Jesus whispered, "Get that one, and tell her that I'll be her Friend forever."

       It may have been years since you decided to follow Jesus, but He's still your best Friend forever!

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My Superhero

my superboy grandson

"Yahwah is great and is highly praised; 

His greatness is unsearchable." 

(Psalm 145:3)

        Recently, on her blog, my Rebecca has posted Q & A sessions with her children (my grands). When asked what one word their friends would use to describe them, my five-year-old grandboy said, "Superhero!"

         What one word would you use to describe Jesus? My answer:
Superhero!

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head above all!" (1 Chronicles 29:11)

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That's Life

Miss Barbara's breath-taking "backyard"
Lake Mitchell in Alabama

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand." (Isa. 41:10 NLT)

         Yesterday, I visited my precious friend, Miss Barbara, and listened to her intriguing stories across 78 years - the ups, the downs, the joys, the hardships, the comedies, and the tragedies. "That's life," she said.

my beautiful friend, Miss Barbara

          My daddy used to say, "Life is a series of problem solving." For every reader whose life problems are stacking one on top of the other faster than the solutions - don't be afraid or discouraged, Jesus Christ is your God. He will help you, strengthen you, and hold you up with His mighty hands, if you'll trust Him.

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." (Isa. 40:31 NLT)

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Generations

3 generations of blue-eyed Glassco boys
L-R Back: my Dan and my Phillip
Front: my Ben holding my Colt

"Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!

No one can measure His greatness.

Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts;

let them proclaim You power.

I will meditate on Your majestic, glorious splendor

and Your wonderful miracles.

Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;

I will proclaim Your greatness."

(Psalm 145:3-6 NLT)

         The greatest, most wonderful, and best thing you could ever talk to children about is

Jesus!

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Tell Your Children and Grandchildren

My radiant Rebecca (center) with precious children in an orphanage of India, 2001

"You will be able to tell wonderful stories to your children and grandchildren about the marvelous things I am doing." (Exodus 10:2 NLT)


         When God used this verse to commission me to write Christian storybooks for children, I believe He designed these books to be read by children and adults TOGETHER - children/parents, children/grandparents, children/teachers, children/mentor - and used as tools in teaching them about Jesus and His commandments.

           We are God's chosen witnesses to tell all the little children of the world, "Jesus loves you, this I know!" 

"Go ye therefore and make [young] disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the 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)

Join LIVE worship and prayer services online at:

www.churchofthehighlands.com

Monday-Friday - 6:00 a.m. DCST

Saturdays - 9:00 a.m. DCST

Sundays - 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. DCST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hoot Owl Hollow

by Jill Glassco

illustrated by Ben Glassco

on sale now

www.deepseapublishing.com

$8.89

(click online store)
(next click buy book)

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The ROCK

L-R my brother, Mark, my mama, my Rebecca, my niece, Virginia
late 1990s

I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my
             Rock 
and my Fortress and my Deliver, My God, my
             Rock, 
in whom I take refuge. I call on the name of the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies." 
(Psalm 18:1-3)




            On a family hike in the Cumberland Gap several years ago, my mother asked someone to hold her camera. She must be getting tired, we thought. But oh no, she wanted free hands to climb over a fence and scale a tall, ROCK with her granddaughters!

               Across these 21 days of prayer, I've been "chewing" on Psalm 18 where King David sang praises the Lord, his ROCK, i.e. stronghold, unfailing strength as a fortress refuge, unshakable. 

O Christian, no matter what you are facing today, know that King Jesus is the ROCK which cannot be shaken. Find refuge in Him!

"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire!" (Heb. 12:28-29)

Join LIVE worship and prayer services online at:

www.churchofthehighlands.com

Monday-Friday - 6:00 a.m. DCST

Saturdays - 9:00 a.m. DCST

Sundays - 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. DCST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hoot Owl Hollow

by Jill Glassco

illustrated by Ben Glassco

on sale now

www.deepseapublishing.com

$8.89

(click online store)
(next click buy book)

Read more...

All is Well

L-R me, my uncle, Frank, and my brother, Mark
1962

"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, far beyond in comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor. 4:16-18)

           Many people that I love dearly are in extraordinarily difficult circumstances - serious illnesses, death of loved ones, loss of jobs, unfaithful spouses, false criminal charges, rebellious children, and even physical abuse. My heart feels as heavy as a ton of sun-baked bricks just reading my prayer list.
           Yesterday, I prayed and prayed and prayed for them, and the Lord answered, "All is well."

            In our sin-sick, messed up, fallen world, is God's "all is well" really true? YES, if you are in Christ. 
           Jesus said, "In this world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). "I will rescue you from every evil deed, and will bring you safely to My heavenly kingdom" (2 Tim. 4:18).

           Be comforted, oh child of the King. The evil that encompasses you is temporary; the perfect, peace filled Kingdom of God to which you belong is eternal. Therefore, look through everlasting lens at your Savior and see that  all is truly well, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and far beyond wonderful in comparison with present troubles!

Join LIVE worship and prayer services online at:

www.churchofthehighlands.com

Monday-Friday - 6:00 a.m. DCST

Saturdays - 9:00 a.m. DCST

Sundays - 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. DCST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hoot Owl Hollow

by Jill Glassco

illustrated by Ben Glassco

on sale now

www.deepseapublishing.com

$8.89

(click online store)
(next click buy book)

           

Read more...

Thanksgiving in August

L-R - My cousin Robin, me, and my cousin Vicki
Thanksgiving Day at our grandparents' house, 1973

My family's Thanksgiving dinner, 1973

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless Hi name." (Psalm 100:4)

        As a child, our family tradition was dinner at my grandparents' home on Forest Avenue in Fort Payne, Alabama. Every year, amongst the turkey, dressing, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, cream corn, and pickled peaches (are you drooling?) was a bowl of Chef Boyardee spaghettios and and a dish of red jello. Why? Because my grandmother enjoyed her children and grandchildren and knew that the grandkids liked spaghettios and jello. 

       King David's Psalm 100 points the way into the presence of Almighty God: through the gate of thanksgiving and across the court of praise. O Christian, please understand that Father God relishes time spent with you. Have you visited your heavenly Father today? Have you thanked Him and praised His holy name?

Join LIVE worship and prayer services online at:

www.churchofthehighlands.com

Monday-Friday - 6:00 a.m. DCST

Saturdays - 9:00 a.m. DCST

Sundays - 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. DCST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hoot Owl Hollow

by Jill Glassco

illustrated by Ben Glassco

on sale now

www.deepseapublishing.com

$8.89

(click online store)
(next click buy book)

           

Read more...

Madam Librarian!

Camp Anza Library,
Arlington, California
WWII - 1944
Official US Army Signal Corps Photo

Camp Anza Library Staff, 1943
Back row L-R: Verna Watson (my mother), Dorothy Todd, Nancy-Lee Carmichael
Front Row: Sgt. Todd




"Let my teaching drop as the rain,
My speech settle as the dew,
As the droplets on the tender grass
And as the gentle showers on the herb.
For I proclaim the name of the Lord;
Ascribe greatness to our God!"
(Deut. 32:2-3)

            On this 11th day of 21 days of prayer, I asked the Lord how to get the biblical teachings in Hoot Owl Hollow into the hands of  more children and their families. His very practical answer, I believe: libraries, where a single book is read by hundreds or even thousands.

         Jesus said, "To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance." (Matt. 25:29 NLT)

What has Jesus given you? Are you using it well for His glory?

Join LIVE worship and prayer services online at:

www.churchofthehighlands.com

Monday-Friday - 6:00 a.m. DCST

Saturdays - 9:00 a.m. DCST

Sundays - 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. DCST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hoot Owl Hollow

by Jill Glassco

illustrated by Ben Glassco

on sale now

www.deepseapublishing.com

$8.89

(click online store)
(next click buy book)

Read more...