Change of Course

only grandgirl, youngest grandboy
Christmas 2019

"Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time." (Acts 16:6)

Since last spring, I'd planned leading an academic study of the Gospel of John this fall, but recently, the Holy Spirit is tugging me in a different direction.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you." (Psalm 32:8)

Beloved, when you believe you have an instruction from the Lord, keep listening. God may change your course.

"Take your son," God said, "your only son, Isaac, whom you love so much, and go to the land of Moriah. There on a mountain that I will show you, offer him as a sacrifice to Me."

Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. He tied up his son and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he picked up the knife to kill him. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, "Abraham! Don't hurt the boy or do anything to him. Now I know that you have obedient reverence for God, because you have not kept back your only son from Me."

Abraham looked around and saw a ram caught in the brush by its horns. He went and got it and offered it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Abraham named that place "The LORD Provides." (Genesis 22)

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Something You'll Never Hear on the News

Little Meredith
4th of July, 2020

"Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authorities come from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." (Romans 13:1-2)

These God-inspired words were written to the church at Rome by the Apostle Paul—who later became a prisoner of the Roman government.

Beloved, "the LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today." (Deuteronomy 6:14)

Selah. 

"Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility." (Zephaniah 2:3)

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Change

"Don't copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2)

This summer, a wild vine invaded my rose garden at the farm. Nothing could stop the takeover. Not landscape cloth. Not weed killer. Not ripping the relentless intruder up by its determined roots.  

So...

I changed. Everything. Cleaned out the bed. (Well, superman cleared it with his trusty tractor.) Concreted over the intruder and transformed the ruined rose bed into a lovely patio garden.


Beloved, when destructive vines like anger, hatred, bitterness, judgmentalness selfishness, darkness, worry, despair, and depression invade and take over your mind,  let God change the way you think. Let Him train you in a new perspective and total transformation: a peaceful mind blooming with truth, forgiveness, love, contentment, humility,  servanthood, light,  and joy. 

"Persons appear to us according to the light we throw upon them from our own minds." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder~

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Tangles and Tug-of-Wars

grandboys

"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." (Romans 12:18)

When our six-year-old, two four-year-old, and one-year-old grandboys get together, we expect a few tangles and tug-of-wars. We can expect the same with mankind. Why? Because we're all naturally selfish and self-centered.

God, however, has the unnatural solution to unknot our tangled world and settle the tug-of-wars peacefully. His remedy?

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18)

"Walk in love." (Ephesians 5:2)

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3)

"Not returning evil for evil or cursing for cursing, but on the contrary pay back with a blessing, knowing that you are called to this..." (1 Peter 3:9)

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)

Beloved, without God, His way of living is totally impossible, but with Him, in Him, and through Him, all things are possible—and doable. Got it?

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Your Part

"From Him the whole body...builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:16)

My daughter, Rebecca, came up with the idea.

My brothers, Rocky and Mark, and my friend, Mary, helped me remember details.

I wrote the story.

My friend, Tammy, edited the manuscript.

My grandgirl, Anya, drew the illustrations.

My son, Ben, designed the cover.

Deep Sea Publishing formatted the book, edited it, submitted it to the printer, and put it on the market. 

When each of us does our part, the work is accomplished, and so it is in the body of Christ. Are you doing your part, beloved?



The Adventures of the Lookout Mountain Gang: The Secret Chest

“Here,” Freddy said and shoved the bucket of buttercup bulbs into my skinny arms. “You plant the rest of these, and we might tell you the secret.”

~~~

Christian children’s book author JILL WATSON GLASSCO weaves memories, imagination, and mystery into a delightful story set in her old 1963 neighborhood atop Lookout Mountain in Fort Payne, Alabama. Reflection pages at the end of each chapter offer biblical truth to help parents bring up kids in the way they should go.

Now available at:

Amazon.com

Barnesandnoble.com

Deepseapublishing.com 

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Straight Paths for Your Feet

grandboys 

"No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it's painful. But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." (Hebrews 12:13)

Last night, the Holy Spirit got my attention and sent me to Hebrews 12:11-13. 

"Holy Spirit, please teach me what You mean," I prayed and went to sleep.

This morning, I sought wise counsel, "What does God mean when He says to make straight paths for our feet?"

My superman: "The narrow way described in Matthew 7:13-14."

My Rebecca: "The Highway of Holiness described in Isaiah 35:8."

Matthew Henry commentary (paraphrase): "Straight paths are walked in courage and acts of faith, so to help another forward on the way to heaven. Affliction by God's design works in me a greater degree of holiness. With renewed strength and patience, I follow peace with all men and holiness."

My friend Cuba (paraphrase): "Hebrews 11 records the faithful struggles of those who came before me and how God worked in every situation. In Chapter 12, I read of God's loving discipline. As His child, I grow stronger in His love. I'm called to strengthen myself in God, get to work, and walk the straight path laid out for me and help others along the way or even point them down the straight path."

Today, beloved, as you walk the narrow highway to heaven, encourage and strengthen a tired one along the way.

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Pray

grandboys 2017

"...therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." 

(1 Peter 4:7)

"May the Lord show you where to be and when to be there" is something I pray for my Dan on his way to work each morning. On Tuesday, as he was leaving for work, he found a neighbor's house on fire from a lightning strike and was able to climb into the attic and put it out with a fire extinguisher before the fire department arrived. Thank You, Jesus!

Today's post echoes Monday's "Really Pray." Over and over and over again in His Word, God tells us to pray.

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

"Take heed, watch and pray..." (2 Peter 3:9)

 "Is anyone among you sick?...the prayer of faith will save the sick." (James 5:14-15)

"Pray for one another...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:15-16)

"Always labor fervently...in prayers." (Colossians 4:12)

"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit." (James 5:16-17)

"Three times a day [Daniel] got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." (Daniel 6:10)

 "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16)

Beloved, let us pray and pray and pray and pray!

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Hold On, Kid

Nonie Webb, 2017

"Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle." (Romans 12:9-10 MSG)

"Hold on, kid," my remarkable, 94-year-old friend, Nonie Webb, said yesterday. I couldn't stop grinning after our delightful phone conversation. Nonie has more "get-up-and-go" at 94 than most 20 year olds. 

"Why do you think the Lord has given the opportunities I've had?" she said. "It's because He knew I'd do something with them."

Yes, beloved, there's plenty of bad in this old world, but hold on for dear life to the good, love deeply, and make the most of every opportunity God gives you!

"So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do [and do it]!" (Ephesians 5:15-17)

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Bedrock

my old home place
Lookout Mountain, 1960

"Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock." (Matthew 7:25)

A doomsday preacher recently tempted me to fear until I remembered: 

Jesus is with me. 

He will never leave me nor forsake me. 

He is my shelter in storms and my fortress in times of trouble. 

He loves me. 

He will help me—always. 

Beloved, build your life on Jesus, the Bedrock of your soul.

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

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Really Pray

our Rebecca and a praying mantis

"Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." (Jeremiah 29:12)

We had a grand time last week with the Indiana kids and grands—camping, swimming, biking, hiking, and playing game after game after game of spikeball, pickleball, basketball, and Nertz. 

One of the many, many things I appreciate about our Rebecca and Stephen is that when we gathered at mealtime, they didn't  recite a memorized blessing; they prayed. I mean they really prayed, thanking the Father for numerous things including the food.

Beloved, before the first bite enters your mouth, I encourage you to pray—to really pray—thanking Father God for His gracious blessings and generous provision.

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LIGHT

Lake Monroe sunrise

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Jesus said, "I am the LIGHT of the world. If you follow Me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the LIGHT that leads to life." (John 8:12)

Amen.

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On the Road

my superman

"You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God." (Psalm 119:1 MSG)


Heading up the road to Lake Monroe, Indiana, we're tuned into GPS, which is marking out the best roads and the fastest route to our destination. If we make a wrong turn, it guides us back on course, and if trouble's ahead, it navigates us around the problem. Amazing!

In the journey of life, beloved, tune into GOD—the only Guide to a heavenly destination. 

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Change of Mind

our new Heartland Pioneer

"So the LORD changed His mind..." (Exodus 32:14)

A few summer's ago, superman and I took a camping trip across Wisconsin. Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek and Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo are two of the beautiful places we visited. 

"That was fun," we said but never planned on camping again until a pandemic changed our minds.

A story in Exodus chapter 32 tells of God changing His mind, too.

When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Hey, Aaron, make us some gods who can lead us. We don't know what happened to that Moses fellow who brought us out of Egypt."

So, Aaron made a golden calf from melted jewelry.

The LORD told Moses, "Quick! Go down from the mountain! Your stubborn and rebellious people have corrupted themselves. Now leave Me alone so I can destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, a great nation."

But Moses cried to the LORD on behalf of his people, "O, LORD, why let the Egyptians say, 'Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth?' Please turn away from Your anger and change Your mind."

So the LORD changed His mind.

"It is easy to make an idol of routine, finding security within the boundaries you build around your life. Don't try to force-fit today [beloved] into yesterday's mold." ~Sarah Young~

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Two Choices Open to Me

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)


My Rebecca and I are reading Gilead by Marilynne Robinson because it's one of our favorite author's favorite books. I found a jewel on page 126:

"I have decided the two choices open to me are: (1) to torment myself or (2) to trust the Lord."

Beloved, which choice will you make today?

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Immediately

grandboy-Tonka race

The centurion replied, "For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. For I tell one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." (Matthew 8:9)

God's instructions and God's timing are both critical. A story worth repeating:

Years ago on a bitterly cold morning, our doorbell rang. I opened the door to an elderly gentleman who said, "How do, ma'am. Do you need your yard brushed today?"

"Uh, no thank you," I replied and closed the door.

Wait a minute, I thought. Anyone looking for work in five-degree weather must need help.

When I opened the door again, the man had vanished. I ran up and down Robin Hood Lane but never found him. He was gone and so was the opportunity to help another.

Beloved, when God says, 'Go,' let us go. When He says, 'Come,' let us come. When God says to His servant, 'Do this,' let us do it immediately!

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Unstuck

our very fast eleven-year-old grandboy

"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:14)

My new book, The Adventures of the Lookout Mountain Gang: The Secret Chest, has been stuck at the publishers since February. Yesterday, I asked the Lord what to do and believe He answered: "Press on! Push forward. Make headway. Forge ahead. Advance boldly. Gain ground."

"Yes, Sir. How?"

"I will guide you one step at a time. First step: call the publisher."

Are you stuck, beloved? Seek the Lord and do everything He tells you to do—one step at a time.

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Serve-One-Another Week

my superman grinding a stump for our son

"God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them to serve one another." (1 Peter 4:10)

Saturday, July 11th is our annual Serve Day, but because this summer's physical distancing makes things work a little differently, our church is sponsoring Serve Week.

Here are just a few serve-safely ideas:

1. Write a note of encouragement to someone.
2. Text someone a Bible verse.
3. Pay for the person's meal behind you in a drive through.
4. Call someone living alone.
5. Mow your neighbor's yard.
6. Do something special for a family member in your own home.
7. Pray for your leaders.
8. Treat someone to a "ding-dong ditch" (leaving goodies on their doorstep)

What creative ideas to serve another can you think up and do, beloved?

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Enough Already

tired grandboy

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:30)

After three days of moving, our tired little grandboy put his head down at the dinner table as if to say, " Enough already!"

After months of trouble, trouble, trouble, our weary hearts cry, "Enough already!"

"...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

Weary, beloved? Put your hope in the Lord Jesus, the One who is able to renew your strength!

(Checkout my list of favorite youth fictions on the home sidebar.)

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Put His Armor On

sweet Allie
(One of my precious girls from small group)

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:10)

Today, beloved, put on God's full armor of truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer and praise Him all day long!

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