Star Trek

Pencil art by my grandgirl from
Coosa River Christmas
Coming this fall!

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take." (Prov. 5:6-7)

When a local magazine and newspaper showed up in the mailbox yesterday, like Popeye, I says to me self, "Self, you oughta submit your up and coming Coosa River Christmas as a feature article." 

But when I looked to the LORD, like the north star, He pointed me back onto His narrow course: feeding little lambs and helping parents bring up their kids in the way they should go.

In the Old Testament book of Numbers, Balaam foretold, "A Star will rise from Jacob; a Scepter will emerge from Israel." The Star pointed to Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah and Savior of the world. In the days of King Herod after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God set a brilliant, silvery star in the heavens to point wisemen to His Son.

Need direction, beloved? Look to the Star - Jesus, the Lord and King. Wise men still seek Him, you know.

STAR of the north! whose steadfast ray
Pierces the sable pall of night,
Forever pointing out the way
That leads to freedom's hallowed light:
The fugitive lifts up his eye
To where thy rays illume the sky.

That steady, calm, unchanging light,
Through dreary wilds and trackless dells,
Directs his weary steps aright
To the bright land where freedom dwells;
And spreads, with sympathizing breast,
Her aegis over the oppressed.

Though other stars may round thee burn,
With larger disk and brighter ray,
And fiery comets round thee turn,
While millions mark their blazing way;
And the pale moon and planets bright
Reflect on us their silvery light.

Not like that moon, now dark, now bright,
In phase and place forever changing;
Or planets with reflected light,
Or comets through the heavens ranging;
They all seem varying in our view,
While thou art ever fixed and true.

So may that other bright North Star
Beaming with truth and freedom's light,
Pierce with its cheering ray afar,
The shades of slavery's gloomy night;
And may it never cease to be
The guard of truth and liberty.1

1 The North Star by James Monroe Whitfield

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Blind-Sided

Kids, Grands, and a couple of strangers at Jackson Creek

"Always be full of joy in the LORD...for I have learned to be content with whatever..." (Phil. 4:4,11)

Back home after a fun-filled, laughter-packed, extraordinarily marvelous week with kids and grands, a crushing, empty-nest tsunami blind-sided me. It took about an hour of praying, quoting Scripture, singing praise songs, and listening to the Lord to steady my mind, settle my heart, and realign my emotions. 

In the wake Paul's "always be full of joy" and "I have learned to be content" of Philippians chapter 4, the old apostle spilled the secret of contentment: "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13)

If contentment was possible for a many times beaten, stoned, ship-wrecked, and imprisoned Paul, then contentment through Christ, beloved, is available for you and for me at all times, in every circumstance. Look to Jesus, rejoice, and stand your ground!

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Grace Upon Grace Upon Grace

Our grandgirl at backyard piano recital

"From His abundance we have received one gracious blessing after another." (John 1:16)

Last week's weather forecast predicted a wash-out for Indiana's Memorial Day weekend, but by God's grace upon grace upon grace, we watched grandboy number one's soccer match on Thursday and grandboy number two's baseball games on Friday. On Saturday, we found the last two parking spots at Olcott Park. On Sunday at church, we heard a beautiful duet by a lady and an amazing 90-something-year-old African-American, former IU music professor followed by a strong Biblical message, and that afternoon, from the shade of the walnut trees, we listened to three grands' backyard spring piano recital.

Today, as we remember the brave who gave their lives for our freedom, I thank You first, Jesus, the One who died for me and set me free forevermore.

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Problem, Product, Resolution

Storybook #5

"Jesus replied, 'I am the Bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again...For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent Me...And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given Me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father's will that all who see His Son and believe in Him should have eternal life." (John 6:35-40)

One of Donald Miller's successful marketing formulas is a one-sentence copy built on the problem-product-resolution framework. For example:

Because it's hard for Christian parents to find good devotional material (problem), I write entertaining children's books (product) that teach Biblical truth and help families bring up kids in the way they should go (resolution).

Chompin' at the bits to buy a book, beloved?

In the highest and all due respect, the problem-product-resolution framework can also be an effective formula to present Jesus.

Because you have sinned and the wages of your sin is death and hell (a big problem), Jesus came to earth - the God-Savior-Man-Bread-of-Life (highest holy product), died in your place, rose to life, ascended to heaven, and offers you forgiveness and eternal life in heaven if you'll believe on Him (everlasting resolution). 

Ready to believe, beloved?

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Name Above All Names

Resent sunset over the fishpond at our farm





"You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." (John 14:13)

He is...

Savior

Redeemer

Deliverer

Healer

Creator

Christ

Lord

Master

Teacher

the Word

Beloved Son of God

Son of Man

Passover Lamb

Light of the World

King of the Jews

Bread of Life

Faithful and True

Good Shepherd

Messiah

Prince of Peace

the Rock

the Way

Wonderful Counselor

Immanuel - God with us

Beginning and the End

King of kings

Lord of lords

Name above all names


He is Jesus.

Ask in His beautiful, wonderful, powerful name, beloved!

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I Watch in Hope

Our  grandboy #2 and grandgirl #1
"bird watching"

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." (Micah 7:7)

At the waking dawn when black of night ebbed to gray, a crossroad loomed. A decision. My choice. Trudge the way of worry.  Despair.  Unbelief. Or stroll the highway of hope. Trust. Faith without sight. Belief in the One who is able. Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I choose Your path.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

The Road Not Taken

by Robert Frost

"Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long, I put my hope in You." (Psalm 25:4-5)

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Generation After Generation After Generation

Our three-year-old grandboy and 3rd-generation friend

"For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness to each generation." (Psalm 100:5)

Grandboy #3 turned 3 years old on Saturday, and we celebrated at the river cabin with family and friends. Those cute, little fellows pictured above are 3rd generation McKenzie/Glassco friends.

From my great-grandparents to my own grandkids, I've known God's faithfulness across 6 generations. LORD willin' and the creek don't rise, perhaps I'll live to see His faithful love over the 7th.

Shout to the LORD, beloved, and worship Him with gladness! 

Come before Him, singing with joy!

Acknowledge that the LORD is God!

He has made us and we are His.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving.

Go into His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the LORD is good indeed.

His unfailing love continues forever,

and His faithfulness continues to each and every generation!

(Psalm 100)

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All American Family

Our Ben, Gabbi, and grandboys

"So now you are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family." (Ephesians 2:19)

It's official! Gabriela Funes Glassco is now an certified, sworn-in citizen of the good ol' USA. Congrats, Gabbi, and thank You, Jesus!!!

Is it official, beloved? Are you a genuine, bona fide member of God's family? Heavenly citizenship comes only by the blood-stained doorway of Jesus Christ.

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Squeals and Giggles

L-R my sister-in-law, Debra, my aunt, Mary Grace, and me

"A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate." (Prov. 15:17)

And Chilean sea bass and key lime pie with an aunt and sister-in-law you love dearly is divine. To burn off some of those delectable calories, I grabbed my Tredline flashlight, and Debra and I headed to the star lit beach for what turned out to be a memorable hopping, jumping, squealing, giggling trek over hundreds of scurrying sand critters.

Beloved, make a memory today with someone you love.

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Promise Realized

front porch view

"He gathers the waters of the sea into a heap; He puts the depths into storehouses. Let the whole earth tremble before the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him." Psalm 33:7-8

After my uncle's funeral last year, I promised my aunt a beach trip. Yesterday, that promise was faithfully realized.

The LORD God of heaven and earth set His heart on You, beloved, and chose you simply because He loves you. He rescued you from the slavery of sin. For He is the faithful God who keeps His promises for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commandments (from Deut. 7:7-9).

Waiting on a God promise, beloved? Trust Jesus, the Promise Keeper. One day His promise will be realized.

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The One and Only Foundation

The Phillip Glassco Clan, 2016
(A.K.A. The Willowkins Family)

"Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have - Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:10-11)

In five of my six children's books, God built the skeletal structure of the story before one word was nailed to a page.

In The Schoolhouse, God provide my grandmother's 1955, 14-page letter describing her 1916 experience as a young teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in the backwoods mountains of Tennessee.

In Secrets of Shiloh, He provided a tale from a build-a-story game my Rebecca and I played to stay connected over the 500-mile separation.

In Hoot Owl Hollow, years ago, God gave that story to a dreaming teenager - me.

In Mr. Greenleaf's Unforgettable Summer, He creatively played out that story before my eyes the summer that a little, green tree frog lived in my watering pot on my back porch.

In The Willowkins Family Christmas, God fun-lovingly planted a field mouse and speckled, gray tree frog together in a knothole in our big oak tree house just days before our last year's family Christmas gathering.

But in A Chancellor Ferry Tale, He only laid the foundation of the story with the Coosa River setting and a main character - a 5-legged praying mantis that our oldest grandson found clinging to our porch post.

In his letter to the Corinthian Church, Paul instructed this community of believers to build their lives and their church on the only viable foundation - the Lord Jesus Christ. Without doubt or exception, a life or church established on any other foundation will crumble, fall, and fail.

Foundation check. What's your life built on, beloved?

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Seedtime and Harvest

Superman and his corn planter

"These were Jesus' instructions to them: 'The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.'" (Luke 10:2)

At the river farm, my Phillip's planted long rows of silver queen corn, watermelon, yellow summer squash, butternut squash, zucchini squash, cucumbers, big boy peas, okra, better boy tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, hot banana peppers, and mild banana peppers. It's seedtime in the springtime, but one day in the coming tomorrows, there will be a day of harvest.

In the expanding missionary movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, laborers scattered seeds of the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the globe. And in the first 17 years of this 21st century, more people have come to faith in Jesus than in all 2,000 years prior - a plentiful harvest Jesus Himself described in Luke 10.

Grab a straw hat, beloved, and pull on a sturdy pair of work gloves. More workers are needed in the fields. Who knows? Ripe fruit ready for the pickin' may live right next door to you!

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Grandstands of Heaven

Our Miss Mattie and our Rebecca
2004ish

"Do you see what this means - all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again...That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Heb. 12:1-3 The Message)

Along the pages of my third children's book, Hoot Owl Hollow, in the character of the wise and lion-hearted Nonie Baskin...

("Miss Nonie" by my talented Ben)

are footprints of six extraordinary women: Verna Watson (my mother), Imogene Glassco (my mother-in-law), Willie Elliott, Alandra Parks, Evelyn Baskin, and Nonie Webb. These "steel magnolias" blazed a live-life-righteously-and-courageously trail that I aspire to follow.

In hindsight, a seventh pioneer should have been included in the "Afterword" of that book: Mattie B. Taylor - yet another brave-spirited woman who walked before me. (Miss Mattie would be 110 years young today.) Four of these seven extraordinary women now cheer from the grandstands of heaven. 

So let's get on with it, beloved! Refresh in His story, catch your second wind, and keep running the race set before you with eyes glued to the prize: Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord, and King!

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I, Judaism, Take Thee, Christianity

Our Ben and his beautiful Gabbi
2008

"Then Jesus said, 'When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.'"(Luke 24:44) "I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose." (Matt. 5:17)

Our Ben and his gorgeous bride, Gabbi, have two holy matrimony anniversaries - May 9th, the date of their legal marriage in the United States and June 21st, the date of their beautiful, cathedral wedding ceremony in Honduras. Happy USA anniversary, kids!

In Pastor Chris Hodges' message, the Meaning of Pentecost, he paints a beautiful portrait of the Holy Matrimony between Judaism and Christianity when the Jewish holidays of Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles were consummated through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Passover - commemorating the death angel passing over the blood-stained door mantels of the Jews and their liberation from Egyptian slavery. In this Jewish celebration:

1. The sacrificial lamb is killed at 9 a.m..

2. It's put in the oven at 3 p.m..

3. The blood of the sacrifice covers sin.

Ultimately fulfilled by Jesus, the Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7):

1. Jesus was crucified at 9 a.m.

2. He died at 3 p.m. and was put in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb.

3. His blood removes sin.

Pentecost - celebrated 49 days after the first day of Passover (i.e. the 50th day), commemorates God's giving the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai, 49 days after the Exodus.

1. God descended in a cloud with a loud noise and fire.

2. God wrote the law on two stones.

3. 3,000 Jews died.

On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came:

1. The Holy Spirit came with a loud noise and tongues of fire.

2. God wrote His law on hearts.

3. 3,000 people were saved that day.

Tabernacles or Feast of Trumpets - commemorating God's provision over the 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus.

1. Celebrates the 40 years of wandering in temporary homes and the portable tabernacle of worship.

2. God brought His people into the Promise Land.

3. Celebrated in harvest season.

The second coming of Jesus Christ:

1. Earth is believers' temporary home.

2. God will bring us to our permanent heavenly home.

3. There will be a final harvest of believers at Christ's second coming.

Too cool! Study the Bible, beloved. It's eternally good for the spirit and soul.

Full message, the Meaning of Pentecost, available at:

www.churchofthehighlands.com 

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Happy Sounds

Oldest grands






"...They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent." (NKJV)

The happiest sounds on earth are the shouts and giggles of children playing outside. The happiest sounds from earth are the prayers and praises of the children of God - music to the Master's ears.

Made any happy sounds today, beloved? 

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Small Beginnings

Today's beginnings of a "masterpiece" 

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin..." (Zechariah 4:10)





Zechariah 4:10 blesses my socks off when it comes to the small beginnings of my children's books. It took Thomas Edison 1,001 attempts to invent the light bulb. When asked how it felt to fail 1,000 times, Edison replied, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."

Got a God-assignment, beloved? Do not despise small beginnings, for Jesus is tickled pink to see the work begin. And God will make it happen, for He who calls you if faithful (1 Thess. 5:24).

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What Can I Do

L-R Dan, Danny, and Evelyn Huizar
1989

"...What a trooper he has been! He's always been tireless in his prayers for you, praying that you'll stand firm, mature, and confident in everything God wants you to do." (Col. 4:12 The Message)

Ring, ring (or rather, John Legend's rendition of "O, What a Wonderful Child").

"It's Dan Huizar," I told Phillip and handed him the cell phone.

"Hi, Dan," said Phillip.

"Hi, Phillip. I'm calling to ask what I what I can do for the Lord," said Dan.

(Since we met Dan Huizar in 1989, he's lost his son, his beloved wife, and his good health and strength.  Now mostly homebound, this dear saint of the Most High God is still asking what he can do for the Lord Jesus Christ. What a trooper!) 

"I think God can use you in a powerful way in prayer ministry," said Phillip.

(I'm mailing him a prayer list today.)

Beloved, when was the last time you asked Jesus, "Lord, what can I do for you?"

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Turn Around

My Ben
1996ish

"Oh yes, You shaped me first inside, then out; You formed me in my mother's womb. I thank You... Body and soul, I am marvelously made...Like an open book, You watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before You, the days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived on day." (Psalm 139:13-16 The Message)

Where are you going my little one, little one?

Where are you going, my baby, my own?

Turn around and you're two,

Turn around and you're four,

Turn around...

Turn around...

Turn around and you're a young man, with babes of your own.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving me Ben.

Happy 34th birthday, my dear son!!! 

I love you! 

Mama

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A New Name

The "Lovely" Couple

"Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I'll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I'll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your name, your secret new name." (Rev. 2:17 The Message)

Years ago, through His living Word, the Lord whispered in my dear friend's ear,  "I'll soon give you a stone and a new name." A few weeks, maybe months, later, her dad found a diamond, and after a thorough, unsuccessful search for the owner, he gave it to Tammy. On July 14, 2007, Ms. Tammy Swido became Mrs. David Lovely.

~

The second and third chapters of Revelation are Christ's love letters to His bride, the church. In His note to the believers in Pergamum (the city of Satan's throne), Jesus promised victors over darkness and evil a token of His affections: a white stone and a new name.

Does darkness seem to be creeping in on every side, beloved?  Fear not! Cheer up! There's victory in Jesus, and a new name awaits His betrothed - YOU!

(Breaking news! My Christmas storybook-in-the-making has a new name. At my creative Ben's suggestion, Ruth and Frankincense, A Good News Christmas Story is now... drum roll please... A Willowkins Family Christmas.)

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Fresh Air

L-R my daddy, brother, Mark, and friend, Steve
sailing (and paddling) the Tennessee River in the late 1960s

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)

In the 1960s in Fort Payne, Alabama, my hometown, most businesses closed on Thursday afternoons, Saturday afternoons, and all day Sundays, of course. Many a breezy Thursday afternoon, we'd drive over Sand Mountain to the Boat Club near Scottsboro and sail the Tennessee River. (Now don't go imagining some fancy, highfalutin Country Club where women sip mint tea and man play golf. The Boat Club was simply a boat ramp, three wooden docks, and a concrete-block restroom and shower house.)

In a message on the Holy Spirit, Pastor Chris Hodges taught that, in John 3:8, both "wind" and "Spirit" are the same Greek word: "pneuma" meaning breath, breeze, or blast of fresh air.

Life smothering you, beloved? Need a blast of fresh air? May the God of fresh hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, fill you up with His life-giving Spirit till you brim over with the fruit of Him.

View Holy Spirit Part 1: www.churchofthehighlands.com 

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