Complete

Granddaddy and grandboy
2018

"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead...make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Two summers ago, our oldest grandboy came to Alabama to build a treehouse. He and his granddaddy completed the job in three hard-working days.

In the book of James in the New Testament, the half-brother of Jesus Christ encouraged believers to count it all joy when we fall into trials because the testing of our faith produces perseverance or endurance (the King James translation reads "patience"). 

James offered a curious instruction: "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Matthew Henry, a 17th century minister, wrote that God must work in us before we are fit for any good work, and the work of perseverance is to make us perfect. If we will let perseverance work, it will work wonders in times of trouble. 

Henry said bear all that God appoints with a humble heart and an obedient eye to Him. When the work of perseverance is completed, the Christian is entire—nothing wanting and furnished with all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare, enabling us to persevere to the end.

For this reason, beloved, I bow my knee before the Father and pray that our Heavenly Father will use our trials to make us complete until He chooses to remove them. "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen us with power through His Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. I pray that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power, together to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ....that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19)

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Week #17 Glassco Family Beach Trip Bible Memorization Challenge

oldest grandboy 2007

Week #17 Glassco Family Beach Trip Bible Memorization Challenge verse:

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Rejoicing over Alabama beaches reopening tomorrow at 5 PM. 

Praying for humanity to walk and live in the wisdom of God.

Thanking God for His love, grace, protection, and provision over my family.

Beloved what are you rejoicing, praying, and thanking Jesus for today?

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Hometown Hero

Grandboy 2018

"But when the people cried out to the LORD, He raised up for them a deliverer...who saved them." (Judges 3:9)

In the Old Testament book of Judges, God's people were living among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites when they took their daughters in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their false gods. 

Because the Israelites had done evil in the eyes of the LORD by forgetting the LORD their God and serving the Baals and the Asherahs, the anger of the LORD burned against them. God sold His people into the hands of the king of Aram Naharaim, where they served as slaves for eight years.

But then...

When God's people cried out to the LORD, He raised up a hometown hero—Othniel, Caleb's younger brother. Judges 3:10 tell us that the Spirit of the LORD came upon Othniel, and the LORD gave the king of Mesopotamia into his hands. Afterward, the land had rest forty years. 

God has raised up hometown heroes across the history of humanity.

Abraham Lincoln, as the 16th President of the United States, led our nation victoriously through her greatest constitutional, military, and moral crisis in the Civil War.

Florence Nightingale of England founded modern nursing and served as a nurse during the Crimean War tending the wounded soldiers.

Dr. Jonas Salk developed one of the first successful polio vaccines to help conquer poliomyelitis, a disabling and life-threatening disease, which was the most frightening health problem around the world until 1955.

O Heavenly Father, we cry out to You today asking You to please raise up a hero against COVID-19. Please give scientists supernatural revelation for its prevention and cure. Please halt and eradicate this worldwide disease and bring healing and restoration in the countless lives affected by it.

We ask for this miracle in the powerful name of Jesus, the name that is above every name.

Amen and amen

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Brain Freeze

4-year-old grandboy

8:32 P.M. 

After 9,935 steps today loading sticks and pebbles into the red flyer wagon, digging for earthworms, baiting hooks, untangling lines, building legos, planting pumpkin seeds, and coloring with two little grandboys, my brain is frozen and won't put two thoughts together for a blog post. So, I'll let God speak for Himself tonight.

"The LORD said...Say to them:

'The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make His face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn His face toward you [beloved]

and give you peace.'"

(Numbers 6:22-26)

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Surprise

Coosa River Cabin

"But me He caught—reached all the way from sky to sea; He pulled me out of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning. They hit me when I was down, but GOD stuck by me. He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised to be loved." (Psalm 18:16-19 The Message)

Last Saturday, my Phillip had a "surprise" appendectomy.

Today, my Phillip, well on his road to recovery, surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers.

In Psalm 18, King David sang of his love for God and God's surprising and magnificent love for him.

Beloved, Jesus loves you magnificently! Does this surprise you?

"I love you, LORD, my strength...

I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me...

In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears...

He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under His feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind...

The LORD thundered from heaven; the Most High resounded...

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me...

The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior...

I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of Your name!

Psalm 18

 A Song of David

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Teach the Children

The Winfred and Verna Watson Family
 kids, grands, and great-grands
December 2019

"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:2)

It's time for the #16-Glassco-Beach-Trip-Bible-Memorization-Challenge verse. This morning I prayed, "Lord, what verse do You want the grands to learn this week?"

"Teach the children Joshua 1:9. 'Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.'"

Beloved, I challenge you to hide Joshua 1:9 in your heart, mind, and soul this week as well.

"I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11)

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Panic or Peace

my daddy
William Winfred Watson
New Guinea, World War II
1944

"God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:9)

Last week, Phillip and I finished reading Sterling North's award-winning autobiography: Rascal, set in 1918 when the Spanish flu pandemic killed 50 million people worldwide.

This week, we started Lois Lowry's award-winning youth fiction, Number the Stars, based on a true World War II story when the nation of Denmark smuggled 7,220 Danish Jews by sea to nearby neutral Sweden to escape the Nazi Germany Holocaust.

"In this world, you will have trouble," Jesus said in John 16:33, "but take heart and have peace in Me, because I have overcome the world." 

Today, we find ourselves in trouble—another history-making pandemic. We can live each day in panic or in peace depending on our focus.

Focus on Jesus, beloved, and live in His peace. He is faithful. He will never leave us or forsake us. He overcomes the troubles of our day.

"I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)

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Happy 100th Birthday

My mother
Verna B. Watson
April 21, 1920—June 20, 2003

"Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying, 'Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.'" (Proverbs 31:28-29)

Happy 100th birthday, Mama. I love you so! Until we meet again, "may the LORD watch between you and me [while] we are absent one from another." (Genesis 31:49)

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A World on Its Knees

"God says, 'For a long time I kept silent; I did not answer My people. But now the time to act has come; I cry out like a woman in labor.'" (Isaiah 42:14)


One hundred seventy-seven nations around the globe have joined together in prayer—not just to a "god," but to Almighty God: Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit—believing that if God's people who are called by His name will humble ourselves and pray and seek God's face and turn from our wicked, sinful ways, then God will hear from heaven, forgive our many sins, and heal our lands. Each blue teardrop on the map above represents a church or a believer on their knees before God's throne of grace.

Fall on your knees, beloved, and pray!

This week's Unite714 prayer:

Heavenly Father, we humbly come before You and ask You to sustain us by Your mercy, Your grace, and Your power. We continue to trust in Your gracious promises that "no weapon that is fashioned against" us, our families, or our churches "shall succeed."

We take refuge under Your protective wings. Your faithfulness is our shield. By Your great strength, protect our hearts and minds from the grip of terror. Empower us, oh God, so that fear will not paralyze us or define our lives.

Great multitudes are affected by this appalling pandemic, and so we lift them up before You in prayer. Heal those battling this disease and comfort those who have lost loved ones. We know You alone are our Healer.

As 2 Chronicles 7:14 urges us, we identify with the sins of our nation and ask for Your forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Spare us from this "pestilence." Cleanse us from our sins. Heal our lands.

With one heart and one voice, we stand together in unity, asking You, Almighty God, to protect our cities, our nations, and the world from COVID-19.

We pray this in the powerful Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

www.Unite714.com 

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Days of Trouble

Children's Harbor on Lake Martin
Kowaliga, Alabama



"Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Nearing three hundred years ago, Matthew Henry, a Welch minister and author, said, "Days of trouble must be days of prayer."

Are you praying to Father God in the name of Jesus His Son, beloved? Don't stop!

"Prayer is only as powerful as the one to whom you pray." ~ Jill Glassco ~

"Prayer is powerful because of the One who hears." ~ Max Lucado ~

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Our Redeemer is STRONG

my strong boys and a friend
2004

"The One who will rescue them is strong—His name is the LORD Almighty..." (Jeremiah 50:34 NLT)

A partial verse caught my eye and encouraged me this morning: "...their Redeemer is strong..." (Jer. 50:34 NIV)

Yes, You are strong LORD! The strongest!

In chapter 50 of the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, the prophet foretold that payback was coming. God would shatter the "hammer" Babylon that had hammered the whole world to pieces.

God's people were oppressed, but the One who will rescue them is strong—He Himself will take up their cause and bring peace to the earth and death to the enemy.

What a grand prayer this passage offers against COVID-19 that has hammered the whole world to pieces. Our Redeemer, the One who will rescue us, is strong. 

O Father God, please take up our cause and bring peace and healing to the earth and Your people. Pronounce sudden death upon COVID-19 in Jesus name and for Your glory! Amen and amen.

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God Will Not Forget Your Work

sweet Allie
(one of my beloved Bible Study girls)

"God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them." (Hebrews 6:10)

Thank you, frontline workers! We love you and are praying fervently for you in Jesus' name.

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Grasp the Love

Bell and the grandboys

Beloved,

"I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19)

With love and prayers,

Jill 

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The After-Easter Story

my little friend and her Easter "buddies"

"At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who He was." (John 21:4)

The week leading up to Resurrection Sunday [Easter] is a very familiar story, but where was Jesus the day after Easter? And the day after that? And the day after that?

In John chapter 20, the Bible tells us that on the first Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene outside the empty tomb and to the some of His disciples that evening behind locked doors. Eight days later, Jesus let Thomas put his doubting fingers into His wounds.

John chapter 21 tells the story of the resurrected Jesus appearing again at dawn to His disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

First Corinthians 15:6 records that Jesus appeared to more than 500 of His followers at one time.

And according to Acts 1:3, after His suffering on the cross, death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus appeared alive to the apostles from time to time over a period of 40 days, and He talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

"And after He had said these things, [Jesus] was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.'" (Acts 1:9-11)

"[Jesus] was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God." (Mark 16:19)

And today, April 13, 2020, Christ Jesus who died, yes, rather who was raised, is at the right hand of God interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

In other words, beloved, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is praying for you today.

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9:00 to 3:00

my Jesus, my Phillp, and me
September 10, 1977




"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)



"It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified Him.
An inscription announced the charge again him.
It read, 'The King of the Jews.'
Two criminals were crucified with Him,
one on His right and one on His left.
So the Scripture was fulfilled that says:
And He was counted among outlaws.
Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him,
shaking their heads...
In the same way, the chief priests with the scribes were
mocking Him...saying,
'He saved others; He cannot save Himself!
Let the Messiah, the King of Israel,
come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe.'
Even those who were crucified with
Him were taunting Him.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon.
And at three, Jesus cried with a loud voice,
'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?'
which is translated,
'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'...
Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine,
fixed on a reed, offered Him a drink, and said,
'Let's see if Elijah comes to take Him down!'
But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last."
(Mark 15:25-37)

"His appearance was so disfigured that
He did not look like a man,
and His form did not resemble a human being."
(Isaiah 52:14)

"He was pierced because of our transgressions,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on Him,
and we are healed by His wounds."
(Isaiah 53:5)

Beloved, we are the reason that He gave His life. Open your heart's door to Jesus!

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Rescued

our homeplace
the great Alabama ice storm
1960

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen." (Galatians 1:3-5)

Have you ever been rescued, beloved? I have. Twice.

The first time, when an ice storm suddenly hit north Alabama on a March morning in 1960, my mother and I were stranded at our house atop Lookout Mountain with no electricity, which meant no water because we pumped ours from a well. 

School was dismissed, and my two brothers were taken to our grandparents' house on Forest Avenue in the valley. My daddy left the office, drove up the slippery mountainside in his 1950s-something jeep...

and pushed fallen trees out of the way to rescue Mama and me. 

I remember Daddy wrapping me in a blanket to protect me from the pounding ice and carrying almost-four-year-old me to the jeep. The three of us eventually made the dangerous trek down the mountain to Granddaddy and Grandmother Nance's house, where our family stayed for two weeks.

The second time, I was a fifth grader at the DeKalb Theater watching a Billy Graham film. At the conclusion, a young paster named Bobby Welch walked to the front of the theater and explained the Good News Gospel of Jesus Christ—the Son of God who came to earth, died on a cross in my place to pay for my sins, and rose again. 

I believed the Gospel. I trusted Jesus, and He rescued me from eternal death and evil. He made me alive in Him—a new creation, forgiven and washed clean from my past, present, and future sins.

Jesus, the One who died so you might live eternally, said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)

Believe Him. Trust Him. Ask Jesus to rescue you, and He will.

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved [rescued]." (Romans 10:9)

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Kelsey

Kelsey and her children

"In my trouble I called to the LORD; I called to my God for help." (Psalm 18:6)


10:00 AM CST
Last week, I told you that coronavirus left Kelsey, a young mother of two, in critical condition in ICU. Today, she's in emergency surgery in an attempt to stop internal bleeding.

Please pray, beloved! 

O Heavenly Father, we ask in Jesus' name, the name above every  name, that Kelsey will not die, but live to proclaim what God has done! (Psalm 118:17)

4:00 PM CST
Kelsey made it through surgery. She is awake and able to write notes! Thank You, Lord Jesus!!! O God, You are an awesome God—Waymaker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness—that is who You are!

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Frontliners

Indiana grands' thank you note to "essential workers"

"...the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising Him for His holy splendor. This is what they sang: "Give thanks to the LORD; His faithful love endures forever.'" (2 Chronicles 20:21)

Over the weekend, our Indiana grands created a huge, beautiful THANK YOU note for health workers, first responders, and other essential workers on the front lines of the coronavirus battle.

In the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles, when three armies marched against Judah, King Jehoshaphat positioned an out-of-the-ordinary squadron on the front lines: the choir. Yep, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing praises to the LORD. 

Why in heaven's name did he do that? 

Because the day before, God had told the king through the prophet Jahaziel, "Listen, King Jehoshaphat, do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. The LORD will be with you." 

And Jehoshaphat BELIEVED the LORD.

Frontliners, do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take up your positions and stand firm because the Lord Jesus Christ is with you, and we are praying for you!

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Do You Care?

our Dan and family
2020

"Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7)

I remember our Dan misbehaving in a Sunday School class as an adolescent, and when the teacher completely ignored him, our boy's young mind concluded: He doesn't care about me.

Beloved, do you feel like God is ignoring your prayers and that He doesn't care about you?

Well, He's not, and He does.

"Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up...Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you." (1 Peter 5:6-7)

And that's the truth, no matter how we feel!

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My Best Bud, Alvin

our grandboy and Alvin, the caterpillar

At that time, Jesus, full of JOY through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth..." (Luke 19:21)

Thought you might need a little JOY today, beloved. (I wish I knew how to post the video.) EnJOY!

Five-year-old grandboy: "Hey everybody, this is my friend named Alvin. He's my best bud, and he loves climbing up trees. I love him sleeping with me. I love spitting on him. Bye!"

SMILE 

"A merry heart does good like a medicine..." (Proverbs 17:22)

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In the Valley

a grandboy and a bunny
2011ish



 "The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the path of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley 
Of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
They comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever."
(Psalm 23:1-6)

Three weeks ago, my friend's granddaughter contracted the coronavirus. Today, the 24-year-old mother of two is critically ill in ICU on an ECMO respirator.

Lord Jesus, You are Kelsey's Shepherd. You are with her in this valley of the shadow, and Your goodness and mercy chase after her. Comfort Kelsey and her family, Lord Jesus. Restore her body, soul, and spirit and give her life and length of days in the the land of the living! Our hope is in You alone, because great are You, O God, and most worthy of praise! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen and Amen.

"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD." (Psalm 27:13-14)

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Look UP

our 10-year-old grandboy

"The LORD is slow to anger, but His power is great...the billowing clouds are the dust beneath His feet." (Nahum 1:3)

I often tell the story of standing by a window years ago on a gray and gloomy day (in atmosphere and heart) and crying, "Lord, where are you!?!"

Into my spirit, Jesus gently whispered, "You can't see the sun, but you know it's shining behind the clouds; and You can't see me for the troubles, but know that I am right here with you."

Beloved, does God seem far away in this worldwide, raging storm?

my niece, Virginia (on the right)
the brave and beautiful

Rest assured, dear one. Jesus is with you always, even to the end of the age.

"Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the actions is. See things from His perspective." (Colossians 1:1-2 The Message)

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