A Friend Who Sticks

Tammy and me
her wedding day
2007

"Some friendships don't last, but a real friend sticks close than a brother." (Proverbs 18:14)

You may have noticed no blog post yesterday. My nose was glued to the computer screen, pouring over the publisher's first cut of Professor Sparrow and the Clear Creek History Mystery. From a computer in Spring Hill, Tennessee, my dear friend, Tammy, was helping me.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for sending Tammy to my rescue. And thank you, sweet Tammy, for your faithful friendship.

May the road rise

up to meet you,

May the wind be

always at your back,

May the sun shine

warm upon your face;

May the rains fall

soft upon your fields,

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in

the palm of His hand.

(old Irish blessing)

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Dimes

"Elsie" by Cami Monet Webb
from The Schoolhouse

"This most generous God who gives seed...is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God..." (2 Corinthians 9:10 The Message)



I found a dime yesterday. I found a dime a few days before that and another dime a few days before that. "Lord, what's up with the dimes?" I asked. "I'm listening, Lord Jesus! Please, teach me."

"Open My text book, Jill." 

Because a dime is with worth ten cents, I explored a few of the ten and tenth passages of the Old and New Testament and set up camp for a spell (as we say in the South) in 2 Corinthians, chapter 9, which teaches that God gives the seed, and He loves a cheerful sower. 

Through scattered dimes, Jesus reminded me to cheerfully keep sowing God-given seeds, of which I have four varieties: seeds of God's word, of prayers, children's storybooks, and money.

Got seeds, beloved? Sow them cheerfully and generously and watch God's garden grow!

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#WeSayNo

babygrand
6 months old

"Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people." (Psalm 82:4)

Unless God sends a surprise blessing, six-month-old babygrand is the caboose for this generation in our family. We're savoring every cute and cuddly minute with him.

Tragically, across town, Planned Parenthood is funding the construction of a new abortion center where, if completed, numerous precious, unborn babies will be murdered. On Saturday, April 27th, at 9:00 a.m., a city-side #WeSayNo prayer vigil is scheduled at the construction site: 1019 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL.

Beloved, please stand with us in fervent prayer as we cry out to Jesus for the rescue and protection of defenseless little ones!!!

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Wash Day

Mrs. Weatherby
from A Chancellor Ferry Tale

"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." (Psalm 51:2)

Hippolytus, one of the most noted Christian theologians of the second and third centuries, wrote: "For Christ is the God over all, who has arranged to wash away sin from mankind, rendering the old man new." 

The New Testament explains: 

"When Christ appeared as high priests of the good things to come, He entered...not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:11-22).

"In Him [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

Beloved, every body, soul, and spirit born to earth is in need of a good washin'. 

Like the Presbyterian minister, Elisha Hoffman, asked in 1878, I ask you...

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood,

In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?

Are your garments spotless?

Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb...'Who are they, and where have they come from?'...And he said to me, 'These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9-14).

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A Big Round of Applause

Little Meredith

"Come everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!" (Psalm 47:1)

Every picture I see of little Meredith evokes in my heart a big round of applause for Jesus. Why? Just rewind the hands of time to 2 pound 6 ounce Meredith in the fall of 2016...

And give God the glory! Great things He has done!!!

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Shine

grandboy
Easter Sunday

"Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever." (Daniel 12:3)

Our Easter Sunday was a glorious day filled with worship to God, sunny-clear-blue skies, kids, grandkids, and Easter eggs—the perfect day minus five. (We were missing the five kids and grands in Indiana).

In a VA nursing home in Arkansas, our shining-star friend, Dan, invited many residents to join him in watching an Easter service via television. No one came. He praised Jesus in solo.

Oswald Chambers once said that "a Christian servant is one who perpetually looks into the face of God and then goes forth to talk to others" [whether they listen or not]. Dan, you are a shining,  faithful, inspiring servant of Christ in tune with the heart of God. 

Today, beloved, look into God's face and go shine!

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But Sunday's Comin'

Church of the Highland's serve team
Hope Haven

"They took Jesus and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the Place of the Skull, which is called Golgatha. There they crucified Him...After this, Jesus knowing the all things had been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture...said, 'It is finished!' And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John 19:17-30)

But...

Sunday's comin'!

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

(Hymn by Robert Lowry, 1874)

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Dr. Alexander

Dr. Alexander and patient
A.K.A. the grandboys



"Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are the one I praise!" (Jeremiah 17:14)

Because their sweet mother had a doctor's appointment today, I played with the grandboys. After listening to my heart through the blue, plastic stethoscope, Dr. Alexander in his cool, medical jacket exclaimed, "It's not beating, Memaw. You'll have to stay here 20 days to get well."

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death on a cross. The prophet Isaiah tells us that "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

Let us take time often this week, beloved, to thank and praise Jesus—our Great Physician!

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Our Shelter in the Storm

grandboy helping clean-up at the farm

"You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..." (Isaiah 25:4)

At 4:00 a.m. Palm Sunday morning, my cell phone blew up with text messages to take cover because a tornado was barreling toward our neighborhood. It hit one block from our house. Thankfully, the destruction was limited to downed trees and damaged roofs, but if the weatherman's predictions hold, more uninvited, severe storms will rage on Thursday.

Yes, beloved, Jesus warned that storms are part of life on earth—atmospheric, relational, emotional, and physical—but to take courage and trust in Him.  

"He will cover you with His pinions,

And under His wing you may seek refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night,

or the arrow that flies by day;

Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon...

For He will give His angels charge concerning you,

To guard you in all your ways."

(Psalm 91:4-5,11)

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Ashamed or Unashamed, That is the Question

Grandgirl
2010ish



"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16)

My dear, college-level-creative-writing-instructor friend strongly advised me to eliminate chapter 10 from the soon-to-be-released Professor Sparrow and the Clear Creek History Mystery. He wrote:

"Chapter 10 is very powerful, yet it doesn't advance the central plot of the novel. As it exits—as beautifully as it is, and as strongly as it furthers the development of Mark's character—what would happen to the central thrust of the mystery/of the novel if chapter 10 were not here?"

Well, truthfully, nothing would happen to the central thrust of the mystery if chapter 10 were not there, however, the central purpose of this youth-fiction novel would be totally eliminated because chapter 10 presents the gospel of Jesus Christ. And what is the gospel of Christ? 

"Now I make known to you, beloved, the gospel...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appears to Cephas [Peter], then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time...then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as one untimely born, He appeared to me [Paul] also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." (1 Corinthians 15:3-9)

Yesterday marked the anniversary of Palm Sunday when Jesus triumphantly  rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Thursday marks the anniversary of His arrest. Friday His crucifixion and death. This Sunday is the anniversary of Christ's victorious resurrection from the grave!!! Beloved, are you ashamed or unashamed of the gospel? Invite someone to church this week to hear the Good News of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ!

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False Food

first fruit of Superman's spring garden



"He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—He remains faithful forever." (Psalm 146:6)

"False News" is a term commonly tossed around in these troubled days, but have you ever heard of false food? Building on yesterday's post, I recently opened the grandboys' refrigerator and pointed to apples, strawberries, blueberries, and carrots.

"Boys," I said, "these are real food—made by God from the earth."

We walked  over to the pantry, and I pointed to apple "puffs" and gummy fruit snacks.

"And these, boys, are false, processed food—made by man from a factory."

So, beloved, here's your dinnertime challenge. Look at your plate. It is primarily real or false food? Real food helps the body. False food harms. 

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!" (1 Corinthians 10:31)

grilled salmon and garden-of-eden salad 
with fresh squeezed lime juice and a drizzle of coconut oil

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Families That Play Together...

Kids, grands, and me
2015?

"Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself." (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Families that play together...are healthier. 

Six months ago, Phillip and I kicked sugar and bad-carb foods (pasta, rice, breads, potatoes, corn, etc.) out the door and invited in lots more veggies—especially the leafy green kind. Phillip is off type 2 diabetes medication. My blood pressure is back to normal, and I have significantly less headaches. We are now firm believers that what you eat is either healing you or killing you and that exercise is a non-negotiable.

After an afternoon of baptizing over 800 people, Pastor Rick Warren realized that his congregation was fat. He was fat. Something needed to change. 

From the pulpit, he apologized for being a bad example by poorly stewarding the body that belonged to God. With the help of doctors Daniel Amen and Mark Hyman, he wrote The Daniel Plan, 40 Days to a Healthier Life. Fifteen thousand members of his congregation jumped on the band wagon, and collectively, they lost 260,000 pounds the first year!

What about you, beloved? Are you a good steward of God's temple?

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To My Favorite Grandgirl

grandgirl 2007



"Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades, but the woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised!" (Proverbs 31:30)

You are growing up so quickly, princess. Every morning I pray that you will grow into a mighty woman of God that loves Jesus, obeys His voice, and holds fast to Him all the days of your precious life. Happy 12th birthday, my favorite grandgirl!!!! We love you so much!!!

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Was God's Wrath Satisfied on the Cross

The grands
"Happy" Easter 2010

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." (Romans 1:18)

Last week, one of my Bible study "girls" asked if God's wrath was satisfied on the cross of Jesus Christ.

What does the Bible say?

"But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But He will pour out His anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness." (Romans 2:5-8)

"And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's wrath and judgment." (John 3:36)

Therefore, the answer to the good question: "Was God's wrath—His righteous response to sin and evil—satisfied on the cross?" is YES and NO. YES, for Christ followers. Jesus took upon Himself the wrath of God for the sins of all who believe in Him. But, NO for those who refuse Jesus as Savior and Lord. The Day of reckoning is coming when God's wrath and judgment will pour out upon all unredeemed sinners and evil.

Easter is around the corner, beloved. Which side of the cross do you stand—belief or unbelief? 

"And they will say to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?'" (Revelation 6:16-17) 

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April Showers

grandboys
after today's thunderstorm

"Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants." Deuteronomy 32:2

In these final weeks of the spring Bible study, I'm praying we're not just hearers of God's word, but doers also.

Beloved, are you a hearer and a doer of God's word?

Jesus said, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends [April showers] on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:44-45)

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Super Heroes

grandboys

"Grandchildren are a crown to the aged..." 
(Proverbs 17:6)

I spent the day with super heroes today. Thank You, Lord, for grandchildren.

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His Outstretched Hand

Our Gabbi and grandboy
Birmingham Zoo

"Let us therefore come BOLDLY to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrew 4:16)

Yesterday, out of a flock, only one hungry flamingo came boldly to our three-year-old grandboy's hand and found yummies for his tummy.

Throughout Scripture, time after time, God invites His children to His outstretched hand:

Jesus said, "So I say to you, ASK, and it will be given to you; SEEK, and you will find; KNOCK and it will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9)

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

"Be joyful in hope, patient in tribulation, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)

Got it, beloved? Go with boldness to God's throne! Go with a thankful heart! Go often and find peace for your hungry soul.

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It's Never Too Early to Pray

Stephen and Rebecca
April 3, 2004



"Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine." (Song of Solomon 1:2)

Happy 15th anniversary, kids! Since you were two years old, Rebecca, we asked God to choose your husband, and we're still thanking Jesus for choosing Stephen.

Beloved, it's never too early to pray.

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Dig deeper

Fort Payne High School 1974
Principal G. B. Beasley and me

"Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity..." (Hebrews 6:1)

Right and left, I'm tossing out the Bible-study lessons I had prepared for this semester because my new "girls" are way beyond elementary, biblical teaching. I'm not complaining; I'm thrilled and challenged to dig deeper.

Beloved, are you still dabbling in the preschool finger-painting of Jesus-loves-me-this-I-know or have you pressed on to the grand masterpiece of Jesus, the Christ—Savior, Lord, and King of kings?

There's so much more. So, let's dig deeper.

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Selah

Creative prayer,
by my Rebecca

"You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct you and teach you in a way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." (Psalm 32:7-8)


The Old Testament book of Psalm (Song) is a hymn book. Often found at the ending of verses in this book of songs is the word selah, which has been translated as a musical rest—a pause, if you will, or an instruction for a break in the singing. 

On your busy Monday, beloved, selah—pause to thank Jesus for all He has done for you.

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