Ee i ee i o

 

"Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for He issued His command, and they came into being." (Psalm 148:5)

One of our family Christmas highlights was visiting our friends' farm in Harpersville. Eli the donkey was one of the farm-animal favorites.

Our eleven-year-old grandboy was this old boy's favorite.

And a good time was had by all.

"Praise the LORD from the earth, you creatures . . . wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds . . young men and young women, old men and children. Let them all praise the name of the LORD!" (Psalm 148:7-9)

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Together

 

"Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness; let us exalt His name together." (Psalm 34:3)

I had said it would take an act of God for our family to all to stay well and be together for Christmas. Well, He did it. We are very, very thankful to the Lord from whom all blessings flow.

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation." (Psalm 100:4-5)

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Merry Christmas

 

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!" (Luke 2:11)

Merry Christmas, beloved, from our house to yours!

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Christmas Eve Gift

 

"I leave the gift of peace with you — My peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but My perfect peace . . . " (John 1:27 TPT)

Our five-year-old grandboy, who loves to work in the yard, told his mama, "Daddy needs a metal rake for Christmas." This morning, he said, "Daddy's bigger so he gets presents today. Mama, brother, and me get our presents tomorrow."

Two thousand years ago, Everlasting Father God sent the greatest gift to the world: Jesus. And Jesus gave you and me the perfect gift: PEACE.

"For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given . . . and His name shall be called . . . Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,  we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." (Romans 5:1)

"I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

Beloved, may God's "peace be with you!" (John 20:21) and Christmas Eve gift!

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99

 

Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" (Luke 15:3-4)

Ninety-nine years ago today, my father was born in Navoo, Alabama. My mother snapped this old photo of Daddy, my brothers, and me at DeSoto State Park in 1959.  I remember him holding my hand one time and saying, "Your Mama had pretty hands like this until you kids worked 'em to the bone." I liked Daddy holding my hand and calling it pretty. 

Ninety-nine sheep were left in an open field in the Gospel of Luke.  In Jesus' parable of the lost sheep, a shepherd had a hundred lambs, but one lamb wandered away and was lost. So the shepherd left the ninety-nine lambs out in the open field and searched the wilderness for the one lost lamb. He didn't stop until he finally found it. With exuberant joy, he raised it up and placed it on his shoulders, carrying it back with cheerful delight!

Beloved, has the Heavenly Father found you?

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Standing on God's Promises

 

"Then I saw the angel who had been speaking to me step forward, and another angel came to meet him. The first one said to the other, 'Run and tell that young man with the measuring line that there are going to be so many people and so much livestock in Jerusalem that it will be too big to have walls. The LORD has promised that He Himself will be a wall of fire around the city to protect it and that He will live there in all His glory!'" (Zechariah 2:3-5)

God's beloved Jerusalem sits in the Middle East between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. She has been destroyed twice, besieged twenty-three times, attacked fifty-two times, and captured and recaptured forty-four times. Yet God's promises for her future include perfect peace, abundant prosperity, and His faithful protection.

Beloved, focus on God's unseen promises yet to come over the troubles you see today. Stand firm on the promises of God!

" . . . two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them and said . . . 'This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw Him go to heaven." (Acts 1:10-11)

"Look, He is coming on the clouds! Everyone will see Him, including those who pierced Him . . . " (Revelation 1:7)

"There will be the shout of command, the archangel's voice, the sound of God's trumpet, and the Lord Himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first; then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

" . . . He will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:6-7)

"The angel said to me, 'These words are trustworthy and true . . . Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:6,20)

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Comfort and Joy

 

"For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you . . . " (Philemon 1:7)

Because of the "unprecedented"  circumstances worldwide, "Comfort and Joy," this year's Highlands' Christmas services, were held in-person and online throughout the weekend. The orchestra, music, and message are outstanding and will be available again:

Tuesday - 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm

Wednesday - 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm

Thursday - 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 5:00 pm

at: www.churchofthehighlands.com

Please watch, beloved, and may God's comfort and joy swaddle you and yours this Christmas.

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God Makes It Grow

 

"I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow." (1 Corinthians 3:6)

Our friend, Tammy B., came up with the "Adopt-A-Generation-Gem" idea. We gave The Schoolhouse books. She decorated them with notes of encouragement.

And God blessed 100 dear hearts in a nursing home.

As Paul wrote the Church of Corinth, it's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose . . . For we are both God's workers . . . For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have — Jesus Christ!

Go forth, beloved! Plants seeds. Water those others have planted, and give God all the glory for the beautiful fruit He grows!

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O You Better Watch Out

 

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)

My grandgirl sketched this two-purpose Santa: a project for school as well as one of the illustrations in next year's The Window at Willow Springs.

Beloved, God's purpose for the Bible is also twofold. It shows us that we have all sinned and broken God's law, and at the same time, it shows us that Jesus is the Savior who takes away the sin of the world — two in one: the Law and the Gospel.

The Bible: Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Meditate on it. Obey it. Love it. Live it!

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Pray Forth

 

"He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour." (Job 37:6)

This morning, the Alabama grands woke up to rain showers, but the Indiana grands woke up to a white blanket of snow. 

In the Old Testament book of Isaiah, the Lord compares the certainty and productivity of His word to that of rain and snow. When God sends forth His word, His good purposes will be accomplished. 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes forth from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

(Isaiah 55:8-11)

A good lesson for our prayer life, beloved. If we long to see God's good purposes accomplished, we must pray forth His certain and productive word upon people and circumstances. Amen?

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And I Quote

 

"Suddenly there was a multitude of heavenly hosts with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!'" ~ Luke ~

"Christmas is actually about emptiness — an empty throne, an empty manger, an empty cross, and an empty tomb, all of which fill our empty hearts." 

~ Dr. David Jeremiah ~

"The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something, and enter God's realm where everything is possible. Nothing is too great for His almighty power. Nothing is too small for His love." ~ Corrie Ten Boom ~

"I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year round." ~ Charles Dickens ~ 

"Christmas, my child, is love in action." ~ Dale Evans ~

"May the hope of God fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that in the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." ~ The Apostle Paul ~

"Merry Christmas, beloved!" ~ Jill ~

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Love Your Neighbor

 

"Love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:31)

The picture above is the "house" at the farm that our new neighbors moved into this weekend. Smile.

In the gospel of Mark, a teacher of the law asked Jesus, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important."

"The most important one," Jesus answered without hesitation, "is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Throughout this Christmas season, beloved, how will you show the love of Christ to your neighbors?

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What Matters Most

 

"He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him." (1 John 4:9)

The back cover blurb of next year's book will read:

A window visible only from the outside . . .

A strange, hand-painted message . . .

Cryptic letters from Santa Fe, New Mexico . . . 

From the author of The Adventures of the Lookout Mountain Gang: The Secret Chest comes another delightful story of growing up in small-town America and learning what matters most in life.

And what matters most in this life is: God sent His one and only Son Jesus into the world that you and I might live through Him.

What matters most in your life, beloved? In your family, friendships, and work of your hands? This Christmas season and every day after, let's make Jesus first priority.

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King of Kings

 

4-year-old grandboy's Christmas castle

"On His robe and on His thigh He has the name written: KING OF KINDS AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:16)

Bible trivia question: Is "Joy to the World" really a Christmas hymn?

Well, let's examine the lyrics to find the answer:

"Joy to the world, the Lord has come. 

Let earth receive her King!"

Hmm . . . On the first Christmas, Jesus came as a lowly babe in a Bethlehem manger, not as a king.

"He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The light of His righteousness

And wonders of His love."

No, biblically speaking,  "Joy to the World" is not a Christmas hymn celebrating the first advent of Jesus Christ. (Sorry to burst your favorite-Christmas-song bubble.) "Joy to the World" is a celebration of Christ's second coming to earth as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, and that's something to celebrate! So, sing on, beloved: 

"Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat, repeat, the sounding JOY!"

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Holy Gifts

Collin

 

"In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well . . . " (Romans 12:6)

God has given my young friend, Collin, the wonderful gift of encouragement. Today, he's sending my elderly friend, Dan, one of his beautiful, handmade cards of encouragement.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for bestowing Your gifts upon Collin. Thank you, Collin, for using the gifts to bless others.

Beloved, what gifts has God given you? How will you use those gifts to bless others today?

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Holly, Jolly Christmas

 

grandboy's imitation of the Grinch

"Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared . . . he said, 'I bring you Good News that will bring great JOY . . . the Messiah, the Lord, has been born today.'" (Luke 2: 9-11)

For her eighth build-a-story project, Rebecca put a Christmas twist in the rules: each entry must include a Christmas song title or lyric.

[A] “But, Baby, it’s cold outside,” said my mom, in the new old fashion way.

"O holy night, Mom! The weather is completely fine,” I told her.

[R] “But the weather outside is frightful, baby. I don’t think we’re going to be able to go caroling this year,” Mom said apologetically. 

“But it’s tradition!” I protested.

[J]“It’s just too dangerous, sugar plum.  When I was a little girl, my grandmother and I went Christmas caroling in bad weather like this, and ya know what happened to her?”

“What?”

“Grandma got run over by a reindeer!”

HO! HO! HO! beloved. Have a holly, jolly Christmas filled with JOY! The Savior has been born! He lived. He died in our place! He arose! and He's coming back one day!

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The Best Christmas Gift for Your Family

 

Grandgirl 2011ish

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

Beloved, God saved you by His gift of grace. Why not gift the ones you love this Christmas with abundant grace?

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Friendship

 

"May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. May God's love and the Holy Spirit's friendship be yours." (2 Corinthians 13:14)

5-year-old grandboy: "Memaw, can you come down here with me?"

Memaw: "Sure, buddy."

Through the trees and down the hill . . .

Memaw: "What did you want to show me, buddy?"

Pointing to his new friends and their mom, he said: "Her and them. There they are!"

Memaw: "Are these your friends?"

He nodded enthusiastically and grinned from ear to ear.

First Corinthians 1:9 tells us that God is the One who invited us into a wonderful friendship with His Son, even Christ our Lord. Have you accepted God's invitation, beloved?

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear

And what a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit

Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer 1

1 WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS. Joseph M. Scriven, 1855.

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By Design

 

"Study the design you were given . . . and make everything accordingly." (Exodus 25:40)

Our son, Ben, a very talented graphic designer, designs my book covers. Weeks ago, he said, "Mama, I want you to draw the cover art for The Window at Willow Springs.

I answered emphatically, "No, I don't want to," and made a trip to Fort Payne, crawled over a barbed-wire fence, and a snapped a photo of the old Willow Springs manor.

"How about this, Ben? I love it!"

"Nope. Wrong angle."

Next, I contacted a talented artist in Clear Creek, Indiana who expressed an interest in the project, but his fee exceeded my budget.

Yesterday, I woke up at 4:30 A.M. to a Holy whisper, "Jill, at least try drawing the cover art like Ben said. I'll help you."

"Yes, Sir."

And so the work begins.

And the point of the post is? Listen to the Master Designer, beloved, and follow His good plans.

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Christmas Everywhere

 

"I bring you Good News that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David." (Luke 2:10-11)

People everywhere need the Christ of Christmas. Who do you that needs to hear His Good News? Go, beloved, tell it on the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere! Go tell that Jesus Christ was born, lived, died for mankind, arose, ascended, and is coming back!

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Unplugged

babygrand
(Picture has nothing to do with post, but isn't he cute!)

". . . If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5b)

A couple of hours before my two, online Bible studies on John 15 this morning, the power went out. Nothing I needed worked—not the computer, the internet service, a light switch or even the heater (and it was below freezing outside). However, the situation served as a perfect study illustration: a life unplugged from All-powerful Jesus can do absolutely nothing!

Stay plugged in, beloved, to Jesus Christ, His word, and His love!

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser . . . Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing . . . My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:1-8) 

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control . . . " (Galatians 5:22-23)

"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that you fruit would remain . . . " (John 15:1-16)

 

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Faithful and Ready

 

"Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return . . . " (Luke 12:35)

Our five-year-old grandboy is always ready to help. On Saturday, he stacked load after load of firewood into his little, red wagon.

Yesterday, he helped Memaw and Granddaddy decorate the Christmas tree. 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus taught a crowd of followers to always be faithful and ready to serve. "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns," He said. "Blessed are those servants whom the master will find on alert when he comes."

Oh, you better watch out, beloved! Watch out for opportunities to serve another today. It's the Christ-like thing to do.

"[Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was around His waist . . . 'I have given you an example that you should do as I have done for you.'" (John 13:5, 15)

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Tears in the Dishwater

 

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19)

We celebrated Thanksgiving a new way yesterday: a picnic on the deck.

What a beautiful, wonderful, blessed, and glorious day. Thank You, Lord Jesus!

Standing over the sink washing dishes and listening to Christmas music, Alan Jackson's Let It Be Christmas unexpectedly brought tears dripping into the dishwater.  

Let it be Christmas everywhere

Let heavenly music fill the air

Let every heart sing let every bell ring

The story of hope and joy and peace

And let it be Christmas everywhere

Let heavenly music fill the air

Let anger and fear and hate disappear

Let there be love that lasts through the year

Let it be Christmas

Christmas everywhere!

I cried, "Please, please, Lord, please make anger and fear and hate disappear!" And Holy Spirit whispered, "That's been My plan all along."

Thank You, Abba Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit — Three in One.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away . . . And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.'" (Revelation 21:1-4)

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Happy Thanksgiving

 

grandboys stacking wood

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name! For the LORD is good and His love endures forever, His faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:4-5)

Give thanks to God all day long, beloved! Happy Thanksgiving.

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Second Lap

 

My grandgirl and illustrator

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatian 6:9)

Yesterday at 7:53 P.M., I jotted the last words in the first draft of The Window at Willow Springs, next year's children's book. Today, the illustrating, editing, and cover designing begins.

Like writing a book, beloved, life is a marathon not a sprint. Persevere, run with Jesus, and don't give up!

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Antidepressants

 

Our beautiful Rebecca and babygrand

"But You, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head." (Psalm 3:3)

Antidepressants, take one or more daily as needed:

1. Write a letter to an elderly lady or gentleman.

2. Call someone and pray for them.

3. Pray fifteen minutes for widows, prisoners, and orphans.

4. Make cookies and take to a neighbor.

5. Text an encouraging Bible verse to three people.

6. Make a long list of things God has done for you and thank Him.

7. Pay for the car behind you in a drive-thru.

8. Take a walk in the sunshine and talk to Jesus.

9. Listen to "Sounds Like Reign" on YouTube.

10. Read Psalm 100 out loud.

"Set your minds on things that are above . . . " (Colossians 3:2)

"And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8)

Do you feel better, beloved? I pray you do!

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Three Needles in a Haystack

 

Afternoon
by the late talented, western artist
James Ralph Johnson

For thus says the LORD God, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out." (Ezekiel 34:11)

I'm on a man hunt — and a woman hunt. I'm looking for James Ralph Johnson's children. (Mr. Johnson was an accomplished author and artist born in Fort Payne, Alabama in 1922 and is a character in next year's children's book. I want his family to know.)

Children's names: JoAnn Johnson Harrell Johnson, Glen Johnson, and David Johnson

Children were born: Sometime between 1943 and 1955.

Mother's name: Betty Ann Johnson

I've tried Ancestry.com and Whitepages.com. It truly is like looking for three needles in a huge haystack.

In the thirty-fourth chapter of Ezekiel, God made a great promise to Israel:

"For thus says the LORD GOD: 'Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.'"

On May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation, bringing Jewish people  back to their homeland from all around the world. One day, God, her Great Shepherd, will bring unimaginable peace and rest to Israel during the future millennial reign of Christ.

Beloved, God searched for you, and He will keep every promise He made for you.

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