I was supposed to bake a cake today.

My family, fall 2017




"He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped." (Numbers 16:48 NLT)

I was supposed to bake a popular-by-the-grands chocolate chip pound cake today, because all our kids and grandkids were supposed to come to our house tonight for a highly anticipated, fun, family, Christmas-celebration weekend. But because a nasty virus is rapidly spreading through the son-in-law's family where a third of the kids are currently staying, our "Christmas" is on hold. 

In the book of Numbers, when a deadly plague spread among the children of Israel because of their murmuring and rebellion, Moses shouted to Aaron, "Quickly, take your censer, put fire on it from the altar with incense, and run to the congregation and make atonement for their sins!" Aaron obeyed, stood with the burning censer between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, hung on a cross between the spiritually dead and the living God - the atonement for your sin and mine and whosoever will believe in Him.

Where do you stand, beloved? Among the walking dead or with the alive in Christ? Believe on Jesus today!

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Ghost Deer

Ghost Deer Christmas night
Coosa River Farm





"Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will chase after me all the days of my life..." (Psalm 23:6)

Our boys have chased this ol' boy - the Coosa Valley ghost deer - for years. The Lord, in His goodness and unfailing love, will chase after you, beloved, all the days of your life. 

In 2018, will you follow Jesus, the Lord and great Shepherd, down paths of righteousness for your good and His name's sake?  

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Three One-Dollar Bills

Sunset over the Coosa River Farm pond

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of [Father] God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14)

A group of men in north Alabama got together this Christmas and gave a single mom a much-needed minivan. In the mother's heartfelt thank you note, she stuck three one-dollar bills. When they tried to return the money, she said, "No. That's my offering - 

one for the Father, 

one for Jesus Christ, the Son, 

and one for the Holy Spirit.

Dearly beloved, may meeting others' needs and sacrificial offerings to God define 2018 for you and for me. Amen?

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Empty Chair and a Broken Heart

grandboys walking with granddaddy and memaw

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth." (3 John 1:4)

The story played out across the aisle. 

A grimaced face divulged his, "I don't wanna be here."

The mom slipped a loving arm around slumped shoulders and whispered something in the young man's ear.

He shook his head and then abruptly left the sanctuary before the Christmas Eve service even started. 

"Oh, Lord," I silently prayed, "Please bring him back."

Christmas carols began. 

A brokenhearted mom texted frantically beside an empty chair.

He didn't come.

End of story?

No. 

"... For God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him." (1 John 4:9)

And "the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost." (Luke 19:10)

"Jesus told His disciples...that they should always pray and never give up." (Luke 18:1)

"What is impossible for people is possible with God." (Luke 18:27)

Have a loved one far from Truth, beloved? Never give up, and pray to Jesus, the One who came to seek and save those who are lost!

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The Morning Star of Christmas

Today's Indiana White Christmas Morning
grandgirl and granddog

"So we have the prophetic word confirmed, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in the a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:19)

The prophets foretold Him.

Eyewitnesses confirmed Him.

You do well to give attention to Him:

Jesus Christ, 

the Light of the world,

the Morning Star of 

Christmas,

today,

and forever!

Merry Christmas, beloved!

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Fellowship Together

L-R, my best friend, Mary, brother Mark, and me
Christmas party, 1958

"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." (Revelation 3:20)

Across many Fort Payne, Alabama Decembers in the 1950s and 60s, the Igou, Sauls, Chambers, Owen, Hawkins, and Watson families gathered together for fun Christmas parties, which included a shared meal and gift exchange.

In the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ, the Faithful and true Witness, invites His lukewarm Church of Laodicea to come back into sweet fellowship with Him. 

Do you hear Jesus knocking, beloved? Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying: "Come fellowship with Me."

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A Thief in the Night

"hard evidence of the thief in the night"

"For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. 

Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don't really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying 'Everything is peaceful and secure,' then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman's labor pains begin. And there is no escape.

But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief." (1 Thess. 4:16-5:4)

Moonlight on the breast of the river below

Danced over the current, a warm and soft glow.

Twas a night at the cabin, and in the small house

A creature was stirring - a little, brown mouse.

Away to the kitchen, he flew like a flash,

Tore open the cookies, then ran in a dash.

A double-stuffed oreo held tight in his jaws,

He scurried away on tiny, pink paws.

Then in the toy cottage, he nibbled a bite.

Mr. Mousy, you rascal, you thief in the night!

~

And one starry night, no crib for a bed,

The little, Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.

Immanuel, He came to save Gentiles and Jews.

Encourage each other and tell this Good News.

For some moment in time, no human can know,

An angel will shout and a trumpet will blow.

He'll return unexpected, like a thief in the night

And away His will fly, lost from earth's sight.

All of God's children will meet in the air

Lord Jesus, our Savior, our sins He did bear.

But those who don't know Him, will stay back behind

With hearts that are empty and minds that are blind.

So, encourage others with the Good News:

Jesus, He came to save Gentiles and Jews.

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Spending Time

Grandboy on the run



"For a Child is born to us,
A Son is given to us.
The government will rest on His shoulders.
And He will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace."
(Isaiah 9:6)

I'm spending time with the grandboy today.

Let us all spend time with the Savior!

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Gift of Love

My Phillip, my Bell, and me
Coosa River Farm

"For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

We got an early Christmas present last Saturday: Adirondack chairs, handmade and personally delivered to the Coosa River bank by our long-time, dear friends, Ray and Cindy Pace. A gift of true love.

God so loved you, dear one, that He gave the greatest gift of love ever: Jesus Christ, His Son. Have you accepted the Gift, beloved of God?

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Whatcha Wanna Do Today

L-R - My niece, Virginia, my dear mother, our Ben, and our Rebecca
Christmas Eve, 1985

"...be ready for the Master to use you for every good work." 

(2 Timothy 2:21)

You can rest assured that one thing Jesus will never say if you ask Him, "Whatcha wanna do today?" is "I don't know, what do you wanna do?"

In our early Monday-morning conversation, the Lord said, "Let's trim a box of books in gold foil paper and green ribbon, then go to the Galleria and give them away to children!" 

What's on God's agenda for you today, beloved?

"The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us." 

~ Oswald Chambers~

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My Happy Place

Gnome Village
Coosa River Farm


"Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tight." (Proverbs 3:18)

My happy place at our Coosa River farm is the gnome village around the base of the big oak treehouse - the setting for A Willowkins Christmas Story.

King Solomon described his happy place as embracing the wisdom of God.

Wanna be happy, beloved?  Embrace God and His wisdom. 

"How happy are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying His commands." (Psalm 112:1)

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Straight Paths

Chancellor Ferry Road to the farm





"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight."
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

We've exchanged waves and smiles for years. Yesterday, the LORD whispered, "Stop."

I pulled my little, red Soul to the curb, hopped out, and, to my delight, met a new friend and fellow storywriter.

Beloved, trust Jesus. Obey Him, even when you don't understand His why. His straight paths often lead to pleasant places and lovely people. 

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Christmas Cheer

Jingle Bell Beach
Grandkids' Children's Choir
2017

"The LORD is in your midst." (Zephaniah 3:15)

Need a little Christmas cheer, beloved? Turn off the news. Close FaceBook. Shut down social media and drink deeply from God's well of living water...

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

"...Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 'Be strong, do not fear! Behold Your God will come...and save you.'" (Isaiah 35:3-4)

"The LORD your God is in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)


"The day is near when I, the LORD, will judge all godless nations...and the LORD Himself will be King!" (Obadiah 1:15,21)

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty - the one who always was, who is, who is still to come." (Revelation 4:8b)

Happy Christmas to all!

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Away from the Manger

One of Piper's shenanigans

"If a man has 100 sheep and one of them gets lost...won't he leave the 99 others...and go search for the one that is lost until he finds it? In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over 99 others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!" (Luke 15:4, 7)

At the Indiana grandkids' house, every December night until Christmas Day while the children are nestled all snug in their beds, a little black sheep named Piper wanders away from the manger and gets into mischief. It's the children's early-morning duty to go search for the wanderer and bring her back to the shepherd.

Have you noticed this Christmas that many from God's flock have wandered away from the manger? O children of God, won't you go search for the lost ones and lead them back to the Great Shepherd - Jesus Christ, the Lord?

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Askim

"...Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine...because you are precious to Me...and I love you." (Isa. 43:1,4)



Three-year-old grandboy: "Daddy, what's that little boy's name?

Ben: "Ask him."

Grandboy: "Hey. Hey, Mommy, dat little boy's name is Askim."


Don't be afraid, beloved, God knows your name. You are precious to Him, and He loves you!

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Keep Tryin'

grandboys in a pumpkin patch

"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." (Galatians 6:9)

Tuesday, three-year-old grandboy and I frantically searched to no avail for his one-year-old brother's paci. When I moaned, "I don't know where that paci is," three-year-old grandboy cheered, "Don't give up, Memaw. Keep tryin'!"

Gettin' tired of doing what's right and not reaping the hoped-for results? Don't give up, beloved. Keep tryin'! God promises a blessed harvest at just the right time if we refuse to throw in the towel.

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Learning to Lean

Our Rebecca, 1992ish





"I depend on God alone; I put my hope in Him." (Psalm 62:5)

At Church of the Highlands' first Wednesday service last night, guest speaker, John Maxwell, preached a dynamic, heartfelt sermon about dependence on God and ended the service with Lyn  Alejandrino Hopkins' "Learning to Lean on Jesus." 

The old chorus walked my mind down memory lane to a 1980s young couples Sunday School class where Mr. Earl Moak taught his naive flock the song and the precept: "Learning to Lean on Jesus."

Thank you, Earl Moak, and thank You, Lord Jesus. Thirty some-odd years later, I'm still learning to lean on You.

Sad, broken-hearted, at an altar I knelt

I found peace that was so serene

And all that He asks is a childlike trust

And a heart that is learning to lean

Learning to lean

Learning to lean

I'm learning to lean on Jesus

Finding more power that I've ever dreamed

I'm learning to lean on Jesus

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A Pointillism Life

grandboy and a pointillism masterpiece in progress

"Now if you will obey Me and keep My commands, you will be My own treasure..." (Exodus 19:5)

I'd never heard of pointillism until our Rebecca posted on Instagram this picture of the grandboy. Trusty Google explained to me that "pointillism, developed by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac in 1886, is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form a beautiful image."

Any life can be a Masterpiece, you know, when obedience-to-God is applied to each small point of everyday circumstances. But if we fill in the dots with our own colors, the potential Picasso turns out a fiasco.

Beloved, "today when you hear His voice, don't harden you hearts" (Hebrews 3;15). Simply obey and become God's masterpiece - His own special treasure.

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Muddy Boots and Candy Canes

Our Ben, 1985

"You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I [Jesus] say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" (Matthew 5:43-44)

The picture above of our Ben with his muddy boots and candy cane is one of my favorites and to me captures the reality that people, like kids, are messy. 

We love our kids with combed hair and smelling as sweet at  honeysuckle in the summer sun, and we love 'em covered with mud and the sticky of candy canes. Jesus says, likewise, we are to love people sweet and kind and patient, and we're to love the mean-mouthed, angry, impatient, and unkind. For...

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal...Love is patient and kind. It's not jealous or boastful or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged...Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (1 Cor. 13:1-7)

May every person we meet today - muddy-hearted or sweet - be met with the kind and patient love of Jesus Christ. And may you, beloved, have yourself a merry Christmas season! I love you, Jill.

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Courageous Ones

Our Dan and his MRAP
2009

"This is My command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

As an infantry Marine in Iraq, our Dan courageously drove the lead MRAP on his unit's patrols. My hope for his safety rested more on God than the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected military vehicle designed to withstand IED (improvised explosive device) attacks and ambushes.

This morning, I received a request for prayer from a traveler in a dangerous land across the sea. 

Beloved, will you join me in praying for our military and missionaries putting their lives on the line for the safety and salvation of others?

O courageous one, the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. May no weapon formed against you prosper in Jesus' name, and may God Almighty guard your going out and coming in from this day forward and forever more!

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Blunders into Wonders

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)


I normally post new book releases on our neighborhood social network. But when I announced A Willowkins Christmas Story, the "powers that be" deleted the post and politely informed me that I'd broken the "promoting my own business" rule. Because I'm a stickler for rule keeping, I felt badly about the faux pas and posted an apology.

The original post was virtually ignored, but the apology for a children's book announcement raised a rumble, which led to two kind offers for book signings.

Made a mistake, beloved? Apologize. And trust God who is able to work blunders into wonders.

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