Use Your Man Voice, Sir

Our Dan, front and center
US  Marine Corp Parris Island
2004

"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be brave and strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)

They arrive at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island as boys. They leave as men. 

Near the end of our Dan's basic training, while his platoon stood at attention—chin up, chest out, arms fixed at the side, head and eyes locked in a fixed forward posture, blank facial expression—the drill instructor's voice cracked as he barked out final orders. A new private in the back row cried, "Use your man voice, sir!!" Dan said that every Marine including the drill instructor laughed and broke stance that day.

(Yesterday, superman and I finished the novel, Overcomer, by Chris Fabry. As I read aloud, I remembered Dan's story and used my deep, man voice through the emotional parts. It made us laugh and not cry.)

Are you marching through some hard times, beloved? Stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ, and use your man voice.

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County Champ

 Cross-Country County Champs
(grandboy in the gray shirt on the right)

"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)

Big week for the oldest grandboy. His cross-country team won the county championship and today is his fourteenth birthday. 

Congrats and happy birthday, Bud! We're so proud of the young man you've become. May you grow to be a mighty man of God who loves the Lord, obeys His voice, holds fast to Him, and serves Him with a whole heart all the days of your life!!! 

I love you!!

Memaw

"Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged..." (Proverbs 17:6)

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The Truth About Forgiveness

Two grandboys

"God is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins." (Ephesians 1:7)

In yesterday's study on forgiveness, we looked into Isaiah 55 where God says that His ways and His thoughts are higher than our ways and our thoughts. We, then, turned to Matthew 6 and studied the Lord's prayer: "And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us," and Jesus' warning: "if you refuse to forgive others, then our heavenly Father will not forgive your sins." 

Forgiveness is more about our relationship with God and obedience to Him than about our relationship with an offender.

Forgiveness is not a feeling; it's a choice—the right and good and godly and higher choice.

Forgiveness does not diminish the wrongness of the offense; it covers the sin with the grace of God under the blood of Jesus. 

Therefore, "be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)

Beloved, who will you choose to forgive today?

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Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine

grandboys at the cabin

"I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you." (Isaiah 46:4)

Two of my grown children have told me, recently, that Matthew 7:21-23 freaks them out:

"Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord! will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name." But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws." 

How tragic the Day will be for those who think they've earned their way to heaven but have missed the boat!

According to The Moody Bible Commentary: Matthew 7:21-23 is the third warning, directed to those who claim to be part of Jesus' community but who are not. No one is allowed admission into the kingdom on the basis of the good deeds he has performed, no matter how spectacular they might be. Entering the kingdom only happens when one has the kind of righteousness grounded in Christ that surpasses the Pharisees'; when, like a child, one depends on the Lord for entrance; when one recognizes that entering is possible only when God effects it, and one enters only through Jesus—the Narrow Way.

Beloved, are you trusting that Jesus is your only ticket to heaven? Then rest assured, no one can snatch you away from Him (John 10:28). "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

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A Three-year-old Opportunity

Three-year-old grandboy: "I'm a hunter."

"Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days." (Ephesians 5:16)

After five days of chasing two, energizer bunnies, our three and five-year-old grandboys, I whole-heartedly agree with my mother: "Now, I know why God gives little ones to young folks." 

One morning while playing trains in the basement, the Lord whispered, "Jill, time with these little fellows is just as much an opportunity to enlarge, stretch out, lengthen, and strengthen My Kingdom as teaching a Bible Study or telling the Good News."

Got kids and grandkids, beloved? Then make the most of your God-given opportunities.

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Mama Mode

"Home from Camp"
My Dan and me, 1996

"Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?" (Isaiah 49:15)

Because my sweet daughter-in-law will be at a family reunion and my son has a busy week at work, for the next five days, I'm rolling back into "mama mode" for the three-year-old and five-year-old grandboys—cook, wash-woman, taxi driver for kindergarten, soccer practice, etc. 

Needless to say, blog posts will most likely disappear until next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Thought for the days until we meet again: "Satan does not tempt us just to do wrong things, he tempts us to make us lose what God has put into us through regeneration, namely, the possibility of being useful to God." ~Oswald Chambers~

(I love this quote!)

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A Good Athlete

oldest grandboy

"Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules." (2 Timothy 2:5)

All seven of our grandkids are good athletes (even the eleven-month-old), and watching the grandboys play soccer was a highlight of the Indiana trip.

In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul encourages his spiritual son to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and to teach others the way of the Lord. He warns that hardships will come but charges Timothy to endure as a good soldier, to keep the rules as a good athlete, and to work hard as a farmer. He assures the young pastor that the Lord Himself will give him insight and understanding.

Paul goes on to say that he endures all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

Today, beloved, let us endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ, keep His rules, and work hard that others may obtain salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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God's Grace

Grandgirl, my girl (Rebecca), and me

"But He gives us more grace..." (1 Peter 4:10)

The past five days in Indiana dripped with God's grace: wonderful family, good times, good health, lots of fun, opportunities to feed His little sheep in Christian schools, and safe travel.

GRACE is God giving blessings, which we do not deserve. (Mercy is His withholding the punishment we do deserve.) 

Thank You, Lord God, for Your grace. By Your grace we have been saved, through faith—and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). By Your grace, we are justified freely through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance, beloved, through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2).

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When Morning Dawns

Dawn at Lake Monroe, Indiana

"God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns." (Psalm 46:5)

No matter how many times I teach or speak to an audience, I get nervous—every time. Last night, in anticipation of three speaking engagements today and tomorrow, I tossed and turned and prayed and sang praises to God for a good while before falling asleep. 

This morning, I awoke in God's peace as His glory rose over Lake Monroe. The timely verse of the day read: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13) Thank You, Lord Jesus, and thank you, dear friends and family, who are praying for me. One down. Two to go.

Feeling shaky, beloved brothers and sisters? Whatever is true, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praise-worthy, think on these things (Phil. 4:8). For you can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives you strength (Phil. 4:13). The One who calls you is faithful, and He will see that the work gets done (1 Thess. 5:24).

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Happy Anniversary, Superman

my superman and me
2014

"May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine." (Song of Solomon 1:2)

Forty-two years ago today, I walked down an aisle and into the arms of Phillip Glassco, and, all praise to Jesus, I've never left.

Happy 42nd annniversary, superman!

More than the greatest love the world has known,

This is the love I give you alone.

More than the simple words I try to say,

I only live to love you more each day.

More than you'll ever know, my arms long to hold you so.
My life will be in your keeping, waking, 
sleeping, laughing, weeping.
Longer than always is a long, long time, 
but far beyond forever you are gonna be mine.
I know I've never lived before
and my heart is very sure
No one else could love you more.1

1 MORE. Riz Ortolani and Nino Olivierpo, 1962.

(Sung by Polly Ireland at our wedding)

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When There Is No King

Grandgirl
2019ish

"In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in His own eyes." (Judges 17:6)

Tomorrow, my ladies group is studying the kingship of Jesus. 

In the Old Testament, God promised King David that his heir would sit on the throne forever. In the New Testament, David's royal heir is revealed: Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Ephesians 1:20-22 tells us that God seated Jesus at His right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And God put all things in subjection under Christ's feet.

Revelation 19:16 reveals that the name written on Jesus' robe and thigh: KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Philippians 2:10-11 foretells that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

In the book of Judges, we are reminded that the lack of a king leads to decline and devastation.  

Beloved, in your day-to-day life: your marriage, your kids, your checkbook, your relationships, your social media, your time, your career, your fun, your body, your soul (mind, will and emotions), your spirit, is King Jesus on the throne?

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Through All Generations

Granddaddy, Bell, and grandboy

"For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations." (Psalm 100:5)

Last evening, the five-year-old grandboy played his first soccer game and scored his first goal on a field where his dad played soccer as a boy.

This morning, just like his dad does on his way to work, the grandboy called on his way to school for a morning blessing: that God will make him the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. That God will bless the work of his hands and keep him safe.

I've, now, witnessed God's faithfulness to my great-grandparents, to my grandparents, to my parents, to me, to my children, and, now. to my grandchildren. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your faithfulness through all generations! 

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.

Serve the LORD with gladness;

Come before Him with joyful singing.

Know that the LORD Himself is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

And His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

For the LORD is good;

His lovingkindness is everlasting

And His faithfulness to all generations!

(Psalm 100)

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The Comparison Disasters

artwork by my late friend and extremely talented artist
Myron (Bill) Carter

"God has given each of you a gift from His greatvariety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serveone another." (1 Peter 4:10)

Next week, I'm headed to Indiana to teach a creative-writing workshop for seventh-through-twelfth-grade homeschoolers. (Considering that I'm a "memaw" from Alabama with a heavy southern accent and no formal creative-writing training since freshman English composition at Auburn University over forty years ago, this session will undoubtedly be the most unorthodox writing class these kids will ever attend in all their born days!)

One point of advice, however, for these young writers is to never compare yourself with others. Comparison can only lead to one of two disasters: discouragement or pride.

Instead, each of us must work hard and trust God to grow and mature our God-given abilities and use those abilities to serve others well.

Got talent, beloved? Thank God and serve others.

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Work Hard

my brother, Mark
workin' hard at the gym

"Servants...don't just to the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God...Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)

After finishing a very rough draft of next year's children's book, I emailed my dear friend and editor, Tammy, asking if she'd help me from the ground up. 

But then, I heard...

1. A best-selling author say, "Don't ever send your rough draft to an editor. (YouTube)
2. When you restfully trust God to do it, the work will be completed and will be done well. (Streams in the Desert)
3. Trust God to write your story. (Christian radio program)

Yes, Sir, Lord. I hear You loud and clear. Let the hard work begin!

Got work, beloved? Are you listening for God's instructions?

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No Wool Over His Eyes

grandboys and edible play-doh

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

Aunt Loretta gave me the recipe for edible play-doh—a fun tool to help our new kindergartner develop his fine motor skills. As we rolled and cut and shaped play-doh letters of the alphabet, our grandboy said, "This is like schoolwork." (There's no pulling the wool over that boy's eyes.)

To pull the wool over someone's eyes is a phrase from early 1800s meaning to fool, deceive, or hoodwink. The term originated from the early 1600s when judges and nobility wore wool wigs.

In the New Testament book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul warned believers: "Do not deceive yourselves. You will reap what you sow," which serves as a valuable reminder that consequences will follow actions—good and bad. 

Galatians 6:8 goes onto say: "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

What we sow today, we reap tomorrow. What's in your seed bag, beloved?

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What Would Jesus Think?

grandboy

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9-10)

In our social-media-infested culture, we've come to value and loudly voice our own personal opinions over God's TRUTH. Since the way we think determines the way we act, perhaps the popular WWJD (What would Jesus do?) bracelets should instead read: WWJT—What would Jesus think?"

The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, wrote: "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him turn to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him... 'For My thoughts are NOT your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD."

Want to live life God's way, beloved? Check your thoughts. Do they align with God's TRUTH in His word? After all, the only opinion that truly matters is His.

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