Love Dare Days #3 & 4

,

Lake Michigan
from Eagle Panorama in Peninsula State Park

"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24)

We're back on the road between the breath-taking Peninsula State Park and  Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh. Across the past two days, we've laughed through the Northern Sky Theater musical "Lumberjacks in Love", tandem biked 15 miles from Tennison Bay to Eagle Bluff Lighthouse to Nicolet Beach up to Eagle Panorama down to Eagle Harbor to Fish Creek to Blossomburg Cemetery and back to Tennison Bay, sat around a camp fire, locked ourselves out of the RV in the dark, and been rescued by a neighbor, a park ranger, and a friendly locksmith. We're having a ball.

(As to letting my Phillip lead the waltz and following, I've stepped on his toes a couple of times. But he loves me on his toes or beside them. Good man.)

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Love Dare Day #2

My love at Kohler-Andrea State Park

"He makes the whole body [of Christ] fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." (Eph. 4:16)

This morning, I laughed when I read Larry Stockstill's comment: "All of us get 'out of joint' occasionally." 

I'm guilty. 

I confess. 

Last night, we pulled into the campground at dusk. When my bathing choices were a 3' x 2' x 7' so-called shower stall or walking through the dark to a bathhouse, I realized how addicted I am to modern conveniences. Needless to say, I was out of joint.

After a goo...well, some sleep anyway and Phillip's help, patience, and tender loving care, I'm back "in joint" and on task - enjoying God and hubby ordering my steps along the highways and byways of northern Wisconsin.

Stay tuned.

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Love Dare Day #1

Superman at the wheel

"So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." (Eph. 5:33)

It's 6:00 P.M. on day #1 of my 8 day love dare to let my Phillip call the shots on our anniversary trip without my interferences. We just passed through Milwaukee, Wisconsin headed to Kohler-Andrae State Park on the great Lake Michigan, and so far, I've been quite agreeable. 

I'll keep you posted!

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My 8 Day Love Dare

Off to honeymoon #1
My Phillip and me
 1977

"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord." (Col. 3:18)

Honeymoon #39 starts tomorrow (I'm SOOOOO excited!!!),  but we've already had our first difference of opinion. He said, "Get to the airport an hour before flight." I said, "At least an hour and a half before."

My 8 day love dare: Jill, let Phillip totally run the show - be in charge, call the shots - for all eight days of your trip. 

"With (wo)man this is impossible!!! But with God all things are are possible." (Matt. 19:26)

How 'bout it ladies? Would you take the dare? 

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So That's What I'll Do

My girl's kids and my grands

"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13)

Teaching reading, writing, and 'rithmetic isn't my girl's favorite cup of tea, but for the past four years, she's homeschooled her three children. 

"I know it's good for my kids," she says, "so that's what I'll do." 

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus bowed His face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine" (Matt. 26:39). (In other words, "Father, it's good for the children, so that's what I'll do.")

Lay down self for the sake of others, beloved. It's the Christlike thing to do.

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Bows and Arrows

The Phillip Glassco Clan




"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
so are the children of one's youth."
Psalm 127:4



"If man is the archer
and children are the arrows,
then prayer is the bow.
Pray everyday -
as long as you have breath -
for your children."

~Jentezen Franklin~

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Q & A

My beautiful friend, Tammy, on her wedding day
2007

Jesus warned, "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law - justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things!" (Matt. 23:23)

I love my dear friend, Tammy's, thought-provoking questions. She recently asked, "How did the Israelites in the Old Testament who'd grown so cold and defiant against God (specifically Judges) become so legalistic when Jesus came in the New Testament?"

I prayed, pondered, studied, thought some more and then answered: 

Oh the wanderings and revival cycles of God's people - doing what seems right in our own eyes, getting ourselves into deep trouble, crying out to God, and the Lord delivering us.

Chronologically, after Judges came the kings, the exile of Israel and Judah, and then the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem. By the time Jesus came on the scene in the New Testament, I've read that the Pharisees had made 631 "laws". It's said that the initial intent was to clarify God's 10 Commandments, but in the depravity of man, their external, legalistic rule-keeping overruled an internal relationship with God. In Matthew 23 and Luke 11, Jesus warned those white-washed-tombs-full-of-dead-men's-bones of the dire consequences of their hardened hearts.

In a nutshell, the problem was and continues to be a heart condition.

Are you asking hard questions, beloved? Search for God's  answers in His Holy Word, the Bible.

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The Guide

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in His holy mountain. For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our Guide even to the end." (Psalm 48:1,14)


Beautiful Manitou Cave tunnels deep into the side of Lookout Mountain in Ft. Payne, Alabama. In the late 1880s, bridges and winding stairways were built leading to a large, candlelit ballroom.

The cavern runs it's course under our old, mountaintop home place and in the 60s was owned by our neighbors, the Raymonds. My brother, Rocky, was a guide there as a teen.

In the ballroom, when all artificial lights are off, you're in total darkness and literally can't see your hand in front of your face.

Need a help navigating the stalactites and stalagmites of life, beloved? Follow the Guide - Jesus, the Light in the darkness.

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Faithful

Kymulga Covered Bridge
Built in 1861 across Talledega Creek
Childersburg, AL





"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations." (Psalm 89:1)

Toddler-grand gets so excited when he comes to the farm that it's hard to get him down for an afternoon nap. Put him in the car, however, and he's out like a light before we get to the end of Chancellor Ferry Road.

Last Saturday, I volunteered for nap-duty and on our drive discovered the beautiful Kymulga Covered Bridge and Grist Mill built in the 1860's.

This old U.S. bridge has faithfully stood through the generations of the Civil War, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, Vietnam War, 9/11, War on Terrorism, and civil unrest in America today. 

All the more, 

Jesus Christ 

faithfully stands 

with every generation 

from the beginning 

to the end 

of time.

Beloved, make known the faithfulness of God to the next generation.

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Hide and Seek

my grandboy

"From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so they might SEEK GOD, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:26-27 HCSB)

As a little girl when I was upset or mad or sad or had hurt feelings, I'd run and hide - under my bed, up a tree, into the woods atop Lookout Mountain. You get the picture.

Amidst recent world chaos, I've found myself humming sweet Beulah Land - a grown-up rendition of run and hide.  

NO!

I will not run! 

I will not hide!

I will seek the face of God!

For Jesus called me - and you - out of darkness into His marvelous light. He determined this time for me - and you - to live and love and serve and do the good works, which He prepared for us before time began.

Arise and shine, beloved. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify the Father which in heaven (Matt. 5:16)!

For resolve and fuel to your holy fire, listen to:

Pastor Chris Hodges' message: "I am a Minister" at

www.churchofthehighlands.com

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#8

Frank and Ruth Achenbach
1993





Thus says the Lord.."Call to Me and I will answer you..."
(Jer. 33:2-3)

Ruth, my dear friend and spiritual mother, celebrated her 91st birthday yesterday. She called me before I could call her. Her mind is sharp, but her eyes are dim.

"I can't see the numbers on my phone very well," she said. "I tried over and over and over and over to punch those 10 digits in before I finally got you."

Last night, my cell phone sang again. 

"You're number 8!" Ruth shouted with excitement. "I had Charlie program you in my phone so I only have to push one number. Now I can call more often." 

I'm Ruth's #8. What a blessing. Thank You, Lord Jesus!

Beloved, have you talked to Jesus today? He's waiting for your call.

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Strength to Fainting Hearts

Sgt. William Winfred  "Shep" Watson, Sr.
Saint-Denis-de-Gastines, Mayenne, France
WWI





"...I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa. 41:10)

I never met him, my grandfather. But I know stories.

In the middle of a dark, World War I night, his mother (my great grandmother) bolted straight up in bed and said, "Shep's been hurt." A letter later confirmed injury on the battlefields of France. 

He lived...

then died in Ohio from influenza before his 30th birthday, leaving a young widow (my grandmother), a three-year old son (my daddy), and another baby on the way.

Life is hard, beloved. 

God is good.

God is faithful.

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." (1 Cor. 16:13)

God is the refuge of His saints, 

When storms of sharp distress invade;

Ere we can offer our complaints,

Behold Him present with His aid.

Loud may troubled ocean roar;

In sacred peace our souls abide;

While every nation, every shore, 

Trembles and dreads the swelling tide.

That sacred stream - Thy holy Word -

That all our raging fear controls;

Sweet peace Thy promises afford,

And give new strength to fainting souls.

~ Isaac Watts ~

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On the Sunny Side

The grands

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (Phil. 4:8)

Yesterday was cow appreciation day. Dress like a cow and you got lunch free. Needless to say, the grands grazed at no charge at Chick-fil-A.

Stressed by world chaos, beloved? Turn off the news, put on a paper-plate cow face, and trust Jesus. God's got this.

There's a dark and a troubled side of life;

There's a bright, there's a sunny side, too;

Tho' we meet with the darkness and strife,

The sunny side we also may view.

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,

Keep on the sunny side of life;

It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way,

If we keep on the sunny side of life.

Tho' the storm in its fury break today,

Crushing hopes that we cherished so dear,

Storm and cloud will in time pass away.

The sun again will shine bright and clear.

Let us greet with the song of hope each day,

Tho' the moments be cloudy or fair;

Let us trust in our Savior always,

Who keepeth everyone in His care.1

1 KEEP ON THE SUNNY SIDE. Ada Blenkhorn (1858-1927). Popularized in 1928 recording by the Carter Family.  

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Serve Day Coming Soon

Corn from our Coosa River garden

"So let's do it...let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on..." (Heb. 10:22-25 The Message)

It's that time of year again: Serve Day. 

This Saturday, July 16th, thousands of Christian believers from hundreds of churches across America will go into our communities and show the love of Christ in real and tangible ways.

My family is giving away fresh vegetables, water, and children's books in the little town of Harpersville near our Coosa River farm.

How are you meeting the needs of others and showing the love of Jesus?

For more information, visit "Serve Day" at:

www.churchofthehighlands.com

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A Dry and Weary Land

dusk on Alabama's Coosa River.

"O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirst for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." (Psalm 63:1)



After the Dallas massacre last week, I talked with a young police officer. 

"White policemen are the most hated people in America right now," he said.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we are in trouble!


"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14),  says the Lord.

Beloved, humble ourselves!

Fervently pray!

Earnestly seek the face and ways of God!

And repent; turn from sin, today!

"God's not judging America. We're judging ourselves by turning away from Him." ~ Pastor Chris Hodges

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Warriors

Our little Ninja Warriors
1988





"A final word: 
Be strong in the Lord and 
in His mighty power. 
Put on all of God's armor 
so that you will be able
 to stand firm 
against the strategies of the devil...
Therefore,
 put on every piece of God's armor 
so you will be able to resist the enemy 
in the time of evil. 
Then after the battle 
you will be standing firm." 
(Eph. 6:10-13)



One of superman's and my favorite past times 
these days is reading Christian adventures together.
We're currently hanging on every word of Priscilla 
Shirer's The Prince Warriors, a story that brings 
to life the unseen battle in the spiritual realm. (By 
the way parents, great read for 9-12 year olds.)

God's using this epic tale based on Eph. 6:10-18 
to strengthen my feeble prayers and weak self
and inspire me to fight warrior-worthy against that
sneaky, slimy, lying, people-destroying, nasty, evil 

ol' devil. 

Read Ephesians 6:10-18, beloved.

Put on the full armor of God.

Stand firm against the devil and his cohorts.

Fight the warrior fight in Jesus' name!

Eternal lives are dependent on it.

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Wise in My Own Eyes or God's

My Phillip and me, 1978

"And the people of Berea...listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth." (Acts 17:11)

In the late 70s, my Phillip and I were privilege to sit under the teaching of Dr. Thomas J. DeLaughter, an Old Testament and Hebrew scholar and long-time professor at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

In youth and ignorance, Phillip made a bold contradictory statement  to which Dr. DeLaughter matter-of-factly responded, "Somebody doesn't know what the Bible says."

It's a worldwide epidemic - not knowing what the Bible says and not caring. Wise up, beloved. Search God's Scriptures day after day to see if what you hear and believe is true in your own eyes or God's.

Dr. Thomas J. DeLaughter

1913-1998

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Little Prayers, Big Answers

My precious family
Christmas 1988





"Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or even imagine." (Eph. 3:20)

My Phillip's Louisiana land and timber company went belly up Christmastime of 1988. Every night for the following seven months, our three children asked Jesus to please give Daddy a new job. 

God answered their little prayers in a BIG way: a forestry position that over the course of 27 years grew to part owner of an international, multi-million dollar company.

Got troubles, beloved? Invite your little ones to join you at God's throne of grace. God gives BIG answers to little prayers!

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Are You Smarter Than a Two-year-old

Our two-year-old




"Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances." (Prov. 25:11)

When an large work vehicle pulled into the gas station beside their Jeep, my Ben told his toddler, "Look at the cool, orange tractor!"

His two-year-old replied, "No, daddy. Backhoe, backhoe!"

"Yes, son, you are correct. That is a backhoe," Ben admitted.

Beloved, listen to your children. You may just learn they're right from time to time.

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Row, Row, Row Your Boat

My daddy, brother Mark, and friend Steve
(Daddy built the sailboat)
Tennessee River, 1968

"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." (Gal. 6:9)

For years, I strained at the oars of the Triple-B (Bible studies, Books, and Blog), working feverishly to reach God's destination - whatever that is. But in the course of time, wind left my sails. The Triple-B drifted nonchalantly into the deep blue Que Sera Sera Seas, and passion quietly ebbed with the tide.

"Wake up, Jill!"

"Huh? What? Oh, excuse me, Lord. I must have dozed off for a second."

Row, row, row my boat!

"Two good things will result from...ministry...the needs of believers will be met...and they will joyfully express their thanks to God." (2 Cor. 9:12)

Keep rowing, beloved!

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