The Anchor for Your Soul

Sea Billows cover art
by talented artist Megan Roberts

"...So we who have found safety with Him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us. We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. It is safe and sure, and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the inner sanctuary. On our behalf Jesus has gone in there before us and has become a high priest forever..." (Hebrews 6: 18-20)

Sarah Young wrote: "It is vital for you to remain hopeful, no matter what is going on in your life...When storms break upon your life, you can find only one adequate source of help—[Jesus]. The hope [He] provides is an anchor for your soul, firm and secure even in the most tempestuous waters."

Oswald Chambers wrote: "Living a full and overflowing life does not rest in bodily health, in circumstances, nor even in seeing God's work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the same fellowship and oneness with Him that Jesus Himself enjoyed. But the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, 'The cares of this world choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful' (Mark 4:19)."

Storm-tossed and in distress beloved? Hold tight to Jesus, the anchor of your soul and guide to safe harbor.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well, with my soul. 1

1 IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. Horatio G. Spafford, 1873.

Read more...

And The Winner Is...

"Fern"
from Mr. Greenleaf's Unforgettable Summer
by talented artist Dawn Copeland

"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus..." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Yesterday, this tortoise in the blogging race finally crossed the 100,000-views mark after eight long years of posting.

As an old man, the Apostle Paul wrote young Timothy: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

No matter what happens in this old world, beloved, no matter who wins elections, no matter what the news says, keep running with Jesus. He wins! We win!

"My Father's house," Jesus said, "has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with Me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3)

"Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:6)

"Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever."

"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Read more...

It's Shake 'n Bake

our Rebecca "helping" me make biscuits
1983

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:10)

Anybody remember the old Kraft Shake 'n Bake commercials from the 60s where the little girl "helps" her mom prepare the chicken and brags:  "It's Shake 'n Bake, and I helped!" 

I feel like that little girl whenever the Lord let's me "help" Him. Even though He could do good works just fine without us, isn't God a good Father to let His kids participate. 

What are you and the Father doing today, beloved? "It's Shake 'n Bake, and I helped!"

Read more...

Together Again

my friend, Felicia, and her 14-year-old son, Jabary

"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of [the Lord's] return is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:25)

Once a month before covid-19, my long-time friend, Felicia, and I would meet and study the Bible together. We had not seen each other in six months until yesterday when we visited and studied in masks on her front porch. Oh, how wonderful to be together again. 

Thank You, Lord Jesus!

Read more...

Too Many Cousins

Watson-Family Cousins
Lookout Mountain 1990s

"On your feet now—applaud GOD! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence." (Psalm 100:1-2 The Message)

I thought you might need a good chuckle today, so I borrowed a story from my daughter. Rebecca teaches at a Christian elementary school. Last week a kindergartner told her that his parents wouldn't let him watch a movie because it had too many "cousins" in it. (Gotta watch out for those cousins!)

God bless you, beloved, and have a great day with Jesus!

Read more...

Remember Portland

double rainbow
over the Coosa River

"Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly." (Psalm 31:9 KJV)

Remember Portland, Oregon, O Lord, a city in deep, deep trouble. Have mercy upon Your people consumed with grief.

Beloved, please pray for Portland as if your life depended on it, because someone's does!

"I have placed My rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of My covenant with you and all the earth...When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth." (Genesis 9:13,16)

Read more...

Sacrifice of Praise

my favorite grand girl
2015

"Through Jesus, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (Hebrews 13:15-16)


What a glorious morning, offering up sacrifices of praise to our God led by 12-time-Grammy-Award-winning artist CeCe Winans. Service available all day at:
www.churchofthehighlands.com

O beloved, storm-tossed and not comforted, though the winds of trouble blow strong against your back, offer the One who never leaves you nor forsakes you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. He is worthy.

I was sure by now, God you would have reached down

And wiped our tears away,

Stepped in and saved the day.

But once again, I say amen

That it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

I'm with you

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise

The God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise you in this storm

And I will lift my hands

That You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise you in this storm. 1

1 PRAISE YOU IN THIS STORM. Written by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms. Recorded by Casting Crowns. Released on January 28, 2006.

Read more...

Dressed for Battle

four-year-old grandboy

"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:13)

Hamp Green on this 19th morning of 21 days of prayer and fasting taught from Ephesians chapter 6.

Full message available at: 
www.churchofthehighlands.com

From prison, the Apostle Paul began his letter to Christians in Ephesus by teaching believers that in Christ Jesus they are blessed, chosen, loved, predestined, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, heirs, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Paul ended the letter with God's instructions for victory in battle in the evil day:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil...Take up the full armor of God  so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."

And what is the full armor of God? Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God, and prayer. The days are evil, beloved. Are you dressed for victory in the battle?

Read more...

Go Fish

my grandboys

"...you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it." (James 4:2)

"Now what do I do, Lord?"

"Jill, you can't catch fish unless you go fishing. Go fish!"

So, I sent The Adventures of the Lookout Mountain Gang: The Secret Chest press release to a whole bunch of newspapers, Christian magazines, and Christian radio stations. And guess what? I got a bite.

Beloved, don't just sit there. Ask God and go fish!

Read more...

Who He Is

"God answers prayers not because of what we do but because of who He is!" ~Pastor Chris Hodges~

I will exalt You, my God and King,

And praise Your name forever and ever.

I will praise You every day;

Yes, I will praise You forever.

Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!

No one can measure His greatness.

Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts;

Let them proclaim Your power.

I will meditate on Your majestic, glorious splendor

And Your wonderful miracles.

Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;

I will proclaim Your greatness.

Everyone will share the story of Your wonderful goodness;

They will sing with joy about Your righteousness

The LORD is merciful and compassionate,

Slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

The LORD is good to everyone.

He showers compassion on all His creation.

All Your works will thank You, LORD,

And Your faithful followers will praise You...

I will praise the LORD,

And may everyone on earth bless His holy name

Forever and ever!
(Psalm 145)

Read more...

Noticed

monarch butterfly
Bloomington, Indiana

"...But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father [God] knowing it...So don't be afraid; you are more valuable than a whole flock of sparrows." (Matthew 10:29,31)

"Make sure your friends give you great reviews for The Adventures of the Lookout Mountain Gang," my publisher coached. "If you have 100 reviews for a single book on Amazon, it will be noticed." (Anybody wanna help a girl out? Ha!)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus reassured His disciples: 

"Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves...Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul...Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid, you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." (Matthew 10:16-31)

Beloved, there is absolutely nothing you must do to be noticed by God. For "the LORD Himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shield!" (Psalm 121:5 NLT) So, do not be afraid.

Read more...

Sing, O Mountains!

L-R Rebecca Glassco Figert, April McKenzie Zizich, Ben Glassco, Rhett McKenzie, Dan Glassco
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, 2001

"Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted." (Isaiah 49:13)

To avoid the calamities of a senior trip, the day after Ben's high school graduate in 2001, we elected a family vacation with our beloved friends, the McKenzies, to the Shenandoah Valley nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of  Virginia. 

There's just something about glorious mountains that evoke praise to God, our Creator.

According to Dr. Henrietta Mears: "The last part of Isaiah is called 'The Book of Consolation' because Isaiah tells in glowing terms, not only of the restoration of Judah but also of the coming of Jehovah's Servant to be Messiah King." 

God says: Servant, "you will do more than restore the people of the Israel to Me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and You will bring My salvation to the ends of the earth!" (Isaiah 49:6)

So, burst into song, O mountains! Sing for joy, O people of God! For sooner or later, King Jesus is coming!

Troublesome times are here,

         filling men's hearts with fear

Freedom we all hold dear now is at stake

Humbling your heart to God, 

         saves from the chastening rod

Seek the way pilgrims trod, Christians awake!

Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon

Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound

All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the skies

Going where no one dies, heavenward bound

Trouble will soon be o'er, happy forevermore

When we meet on that shore, free from all care

Rising up in the sky, telling this world goodbye

Homeward we then shall fly, glory to share! 1

1 JESUS IS COMING SOON. R. E. Winsett, 1942.

Read more...

Grace

L-R my sister-in-law Debra, my aunt Mary Grace, and me
girls beach trip, 2017

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Colossians 4:6)

My long-time favorite and only living aunt this side of heaven is Mary Grace.

Grace (unmerited favor or giving that which is good and undeserved) is woven into the fabric of the New Testament...

"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17)

"[God] saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus..." (2 Timothy 1:9)

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

"In [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." (Ephesians 1:7)

Beloved, God extended undeserved grace to you. Today, are you extending unmerited grace to others?

Read more...

Reliable

oldest grandboy

"Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?" (Proverbs 20:6)

Congrats to our oldest grandboy who just made the high school JV soccer team. (Can't believe we have a high schooler this year!) As midfielder, he's the first line of defense and the one his team relies on to turn things around from defense to offense.

Oswald Chambers once said, "God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable."

Beloved, "do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord" (Hebrews 10:35). In these critical days, let others find you reliable!

Read more...

Collapsed

grandboy



"...Your words have put stumbling people on their feet, put fresh hope in people about to collapse..." (Job 4:4)

Sunday afternoon, the four-year-old grandboy ran back and forth, back and forth trying to muster the courage to jump off the diving board (not the same grandboy in yesterday's post—the other four-year-old). Finally, he collapsed. It was hilarious! (To his credit, after some coaxing, he did finally take the plunge.)

In the Old Testament book of Job, Eliphaz attempts to encourage downtrodden Job by reminding him that his words had lifted others from their pit of despair. 

Beloved, be a friend and lift a heart ready to collapse! "Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job [today], to bless!" (1 Peter 3:9 The Message)

Read more...

I Believe in You

 grandboy and my Ben

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

Yesterday, the four-year-old grandboy was scared to jump in the water and swim to the ladder until Memaw whispered in his ear, "I believe in you; you can do it!"

Courage conquered timidity and SPLASH! off he went like a fish in the sea. 

Today, beloved, I believe in you. You can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives you strength! 

Read more...

Power in the Blood

My Phillip and me
(pups: Missy and Butch)
1979

"And they have defeated [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die." (Revelation 12:11)

Forty years ago, Dorothy Miller at First Baptist Church in Bogalusa, Louisiana taught me, "Jill, in times of danger, plead the blood of Jesus."

Today, day #6 of 21 days of prayer and fasting, Pastor Jentezen Franklin taught, "In times of danger, plead the blood of Jesus."

The powerful blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin: 

"But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

The powerful blood of Jesus purchases freedom and forgives sins:
"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)

The powerful blood of Jesus justifies and saves from God's wrath:
"Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through [Jesus]!" (Romans 5:9)

The powerful blood of Jesus gives audience with Almighty God:
 "And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus." (Hebrews 10:19)

The powerful blood of Jesus gives victory over Satan: 

"And they have defeated [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die." (Revelation 12:11)

Beloved, in times of danger, plead the blood of Jesus!!!

Would you be free from the power of sin?

There's power in the blood, power in the blood.

Would you o'er evil a victory win?

There's wonderful power in the blood. 1

1 THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD. Lewis E. Jones, 1899.

Read more...

A Consuming Fire

Coosa River farm sunset

"Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees..." (Hebrews 12:12)

A sore knee led me to Hebrews 12:12, which led me to the whole chapter, which led me to preparing a Bible study for fall semester on the entire book of Hebrews. 

Our God, a consuming fire, surely works in mysterious ways! Pay attention, beloved!

Read more...

Courage

oldest grandboy
Coosa River leap

"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)

In June, when their fourteen-year-old cousin took a flying leap off the tall riverbank, the little grandboys thought he was the coolest, bravest thing ever.

To many folks, life feels like a free-fall these day, but God is faithful—rock solid. So, stand strong, beloved. Let your heart take courage. Come what may, take courage in Jesus. No matter what, lock arms with the LORD!

Read more...

Sheltered

"For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock." (Psalm 27:5)

On the Coosa River bank yesterday, I set Mary and Joseph under a toadstool, snapped this picture, and sent it to the grandkids. 

"Look!" I texted, "God grew Mary and Joseph a shelter last night."

In days of trouble when the wicked advanced against David, the king sheltered in the LORD and sang:

"The LORD is my light and salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?...My head will be lifted up above my enemies who surround me...I will sing and make music to the LORD...I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." (Psalm 27)

Beloved, the LORD is your shelter. Stay under His wing and sing praises to His holy name: Jesus!

Read more...

The Perfect Ending

Summer night at the farm

"My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." (Acts 20:24)

The perfect ending to Saturday's fun day at the farm was a moonlight "beaver" cruise on the fishing pond.

The perfect ending of summer is joining thousands and thousands of other Christians in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting to the Lord. 

The perfect ending for life is finishing the work God assigns us: telling the Good News of forgiveness and everlasting life by faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer services available August 2-22 at: www.churchofthehighlands.com

Read more...