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| grandboys
"Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another...do this more and more." (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)
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| Our Dan and his boys |
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| babygrand just born today
"Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done...There is none to compare with You. If I would declare of them, they are more than could be numbered." (Psalm 40:5)
Babygrand number seven (sixth grandboy) arrived today. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for our special delivery.
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| grandboy and lamb 2013ish
"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love." (Ephesians 4:2)
I've been dealing with a challenging situation this week. In the middle of the night, a merry-go-round of frustration and what-should-I-do whirled around my mind. When I prayed, the Holy Spirit reminded me to pray for the target of my frustration, and first thing this morning, I read the "be humble, gentle, and patient" verse that Paul wrote to the Ephesians. By 10:45 a.m., the situation was resolved. Thank You, Lord Jesus, the omniscient, all-wise, and powerful God.
Frustrated, beloved? Choose humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for others' faults and pray for them.
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| grandnephew |
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| three grandboys, Bell the dog, and Memaw (me) |
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| Two-year-old grandboys Oh happy day!
"Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." (3 John 1:2)
Our dear friend, Mr. Dan, lives in an Arkansas VA nursing home. We talk almost daily, and the tone of his "Hi, Jill" instantly tells me whether he's had a good or bad day. Yesterday and so far today have been great he said, "Because the Lord is really with me."
Beloved, I pray that you have a great day with Jesus, too!
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| Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn? (Nah, just my Phillip and granddog, Gabe, floating the Coosa River)
"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:16)
Do you remember the story in John chapter 21 when the resurrected Jesus told Peter and a few other disciples to throw their nets on the right-hand side of the boat and they hauled in 153 flip-flopping fish? Well, a couple of years ago, Jesus used that story to tell me to cast my books on the right-hand side: give away more than we sell.
Beloved, giving is the God-like thing to do. "For this is how much God loved the world, He gave His one and only Son, Jesus, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
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| Meredith and friend |
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| grandboy a.k.a. Ironman
"Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31)
Everybody gets tired and weary - even ironman. Have you heard, beloved? Have you understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary, doesn't even pause to catch His breath. And He gives power to the weak, strength to the powerless, and energizes those who get tired. (Isaiah 40:28-29)
Feeling worn out, beloved, like an old punching bag in a neighbor's garage? Lean on Jesus. Trust Him. Let His strength fall like gentle rain on a dry and thirsty land.
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| ironmen a.k.a. grandboys
"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)
When the grandboys put on their new ironman costumes, their dad said the four-year-old's personality instantly transformed into a true superhero. He stood up straight, looked very serious, and for her safety, escorted his mom to their car.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for men who act like men - firm in the faith, watchful, and strong!
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| "Sunrise" photo by our Rebecca
"Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph's descendants like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display Your radiant glory... Show us Your mighty power. Come to rescue us!" (Psalm 80:1-2)
Oswald Chambers said: "I cannot save and sanctify myself; I cannot make atonement for sin; I cannot redeem the world; I cannot make right what is wrong, purify what is impure, or make holy what is unholy. That is all the sovereign work of God."
Beloved, let us cry out to the One who can!
"This is what the LORD...says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you..." (2 Kings 20:5)
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| grandboy in the blackberry patch
"We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father." (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)
Granddaddy's garden is a labor of faith, love, and steadfastness. His blackberry bushes surprisingly produced an encore of berries this fall, and the grandboys love to help pick 'em and eat 'em.
Twice this morning, I came across 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, and Jesus had my attention. In this passage, the Apostle Paul commended believers in Thessalonica, Greece for their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in Christ. The Message interpretation goes on to say: "It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put His hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn't just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions."
It reminded me of the 1960s hymn, "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love." Beloved, when people observe us, will they see faith, love, and hope?
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love
All praise to the Father
from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ
Jesus, His only Son
And all praise the Spirit
who makes us one
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love
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| hard-working grandboy "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with winds like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
Our endless-energy grandboy has a baby brother due this month, and his family will be staying with us for 3 or 4 weeks. So, I'm asking Jesus for an ample dose of energy!
Need energy, beloved? Dr. David Jeremiah wrote: According to Isaiah 40:31, "we have a constant source of renewable energy to keep the lights burning in our hearts. When you face a problem that drains your energy, get alone with the Lord and give it to Him. Entrust it to Him in a conscious act of faith. Wait on His resolution in hopeful faith. You'll be amazed at how you're inwardly strengthened by the process. That's renewable energy that works!"
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| two-year-old grandboy and his birdbath masterpiece
"The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work He began with we first believed." (Romans 13:12 The Message)
This morning, one of our two-year-old grandboys carefully filled our birdbath and then added a few flower petals (and acorns) for the finishing touches.
In the New Testament book of Romans, God through the Apostle Paul urges believers to be responsible people: be a good citizen, don't run up debts, and make sure that you take care of your day-by-day obligations.
Time is winding down, beloved. God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work He began in us. So, we can't afford to waste a minute. We must not squander these precious daylight hours. Let's get out of bed! Dress ourselves in Christ and get to work and get it done for Him!
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| Our Ben, 1995ish?
She turned to Him and cried out, "Rabboni!" (which is Hebrew for "Teacher"). (John 20:16)
Through my sins, the Teacher taught humility.
Through financial disaster, the Teacher taught trust.
Through wild and wooly teenagers, the Teacher taught me to pray.
Jesus is your best Teacher, beloved. Be His best student.
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." (Romans 8:29)
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| Grandboy Cross Country Race "Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!" (1 Corinthians 9:24)
Oh how I love God's voice! How does one hear His voice? You read His Word. This morning, He said, "Jill, run to win!"
"Yes, Sir! And what would You tell the world today, Lord?"
"My children, run to win! Earthly prizes will fade away, but you run for the eternal prize. Run with purpose in every step. Stay alert and in top condition. Tell everyone about Me and don't miss out yourself (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which I, through My Son, Jesus Christ, am calling you (Philippians 3:14)."
Amen! Oh, how I love God's voice!
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| grandboys and a "pirate ship" |
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