Run to Win

 

"Jacob" from next year's book:
Fish Fry
by my talented grandgirl

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way to get the prize!" (1 Corinthians 9:24)

For me, book making is a year-long marathon. I'm now on the second lap of next year's Fish Fry.

In a day when people are ready to quit (jobs, marriages, even life!), be the child of God who perseveres — the one who runs to win with your eyes on Jesus!

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Prayer Day #20: Learning to Lean

 

grandboys
5 years ago today

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

Jesus is our strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Learn to lean on Him, beloved. 

Learning to lean

Learning to lean

I'm learning to lean on Jesus

Finding more power than I've ever dreamed

I'm learning to lean on Jesus 1

1LEARNING TO LEAN ON JESUS. John Stallings, 1976.

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Prayer Day #19: Field of Dreams

pickleball/basketball court
in the making

"In the last days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams." (Acts 2:17)

Remember the 1989 baseball classic "Field of Dreams?" Well, under the trees at the farm, my superman is building his field of dreams: a pickleball/basketball court.

Ten years ago, I was challenged to seek God's dreams for me rather than take my dreams to God. It started a journey I'd never dreamed of: writing children's books.

Beloved, I challenge you to seek the Lord with all your heart — ask Him to show you His dreams for you. 

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

"Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass!" (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

 

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Prayer Day #18: Power

 

flag football grandboys

"I want to know Christ better. Yes, I want to know the power that raised Him from the dead . . . " (Philippians 3:10)

Pastor Stephen Winston's three power-points at today's prayer service:

Pray to:

1. Know God and His ways.
2. Hear His voice.
3. Know His power.

Beloved, may our God who brought Jesus back from the dead supply you with everything you need today to do His bidding.

Service available at: www.churchofthehighlands.com

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Prayer Day #17: I Can't Move

 

second grade grandboy

". . . there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)

At school, our second-grade grandboy and his best friend sit next to each other. Last week when the teacher asked the friend to change seats, he said in his most sincere and respectful voice, "But teacher, I can't move."

Teacher: "Why can't you move?"

Friend: "Because he's my best friend, and he needs me. If I move, I won't be able to help him."

Teacher: "Okay, then."

Beloved, be a faithful friend today who sticks closer than a brother. 

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Prayer Day #16: Clean Path

grandboys, boy, and superman
breaking down the beaver dam

"Clear the path in the desert! Make a straight road for the LORD our God. Fill in the valleys; flatten every hill and mountain. Level the rough and rugged ground. Then the glory of the LORD will appear for all to see." (Isaiah 40:3-5)

A favorite chore at the farm for the grandboys is clearing beaver dams, making clean pathways for watercourses.

In the book of Isaiah chapter 40, the old prophet brings a message of comfort and hope: God will reunite with His people.

Comfort and hope to you, beloved. One day, all calamity will clear away, making a clean path for Jesus to return to you and to me.  

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Prayer Day #12: Giant Jacuzzi

 

Coosa River farm pool

"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 action is. See things from His perspective." (Colossians 3:2 The Message)

Our grandboys' little friend from California had never seen an aboveground pool. When he got home from the farm, he said, "Dad, they have the BIGGEST jacuzzi you've ever seen in your life!"

It's all about perspective, beloved. View the world through the Father's eyes!

"This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life." (John 3:16 The Message)

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Prayer Day #11: A Kid, Grands, Alligator, and One Fearless Man

 

a kid, grands, alligator, and one fearless man
Everglades 2021

"This is My command — be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go!" (Joshua 1:9)

Earlier this summer, our kids and grands visited the Everglades National Park and saw an alligator up close and personal thanks to one fearless worker.

What the world needs now is love, sweet love but also fearless courage. Beloved, may you be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power!

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Prayer Day #10: Forever and Always

 

Daddy and Mama
Mt. Rubidoux, CA
1944

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready." (Revelation 19:7)

Seventy-eight years ago today —August 17, 1943 — my daddy vowed: "I, Winfred, take thee, Verna, to be my wedded wife." And she remained his beautiful wedded bride for fifty-one years till death did them part.

The book of Revelation describes a future wedding celebration — a heavenly one, the marriage supper of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, and His bride, the church.

Rejoice, beloved, be glad and give God glory! You are the Bride of Christ. He loves you with an everlasting love, and you will be together with Him forever and always.

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Prayer Day #9: God of Large and Small

 

photo by our Rebecca

Jesus said, "Whoever can be trusted with the very little can also be trusted with much . . . " (Luke 16:10)

Day #9 of 21 Days of Prayer, I asked the Lord for the much —the lost to be saved, the sick to be healed, broken marriages to be restored and rebuilt, America to return to God. I also asked Him for the little —to show me where in the world is the missing Professor Sparrow in next year's book.

Beloved, we can trust Jesus in all thing. Bring all your cares to Him — the large and the small.

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Prayer Day #6: Brain Pain

another 5-year-old grandboy

"Now may the God of peace — who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep . . . may He equip you with all you need . . . " (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Another grandboy had his first day of kindergarten yesterday. After school, he told his mommy, "It's gonna be a long time until I can remember everything because it makes my brain hurt."

This morning, a young pastor asked for prayer for wisdom beyond his training, skill, and knowledge to do the hard work set before him.

Do you feel inadequate, beloved? Don't try it alone. Always ask your all-powerful God to supply and equip you with everything you need to do the good work He has set before you!

"May [God] equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen." (Hebrews 12:21)

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Prayer Day #5: Before and After

 

Grandboy, before 1st day of kindergarten

" . . . Before the presence of the LORD; lift up your hands to Him for the life of your little ones." (Lamentations 2:19)

Today, beloved, pray for all the little school children. Pray for their teachers.

grandboy, after 1st day of kindergarten

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Prayer Day #4: Nobody, Everybody, Somebody

 

my grandboy
Orange Beach, AL
June 2021

"But 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)

Before the 21 Days of Prayer services early this morning, I texted a question for my 12-year-old grandboy: "What's your favorite praise song?"

Answer: "Nobody" by Casting Crowns. 1

I looked it up and learned that "Nobody" is based on the life of John the Baptist when people asked who he was. His answer: "I'm just a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Clear the way for the LORD's coming!" (John 1:23)

Today, beloved, be the somebody who tells everybody about Jesus!

1 NOBODY. Mark Hall, Bernie Herms, Matthew West of Casting Crowns, Provident Label, 2019.

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Day #3 of prayer: Determination

 

My Rebecca and my grandboy
2016

". . . the gracious hand of his God was on him because Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the LORD, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel." (Ezra 7:9-10)

This potato-sack race snapshot is one of my favorites. The grandboy was bound and determined to reach the finish line — his mom.

Determination is the strong will or resolve to persevere toward a difficult goal despite challenging obstacles. In the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah, we read of God's people rebuilding Jerusalem despite hardships and strong opposition. In the story, a prophet named Ezra determined in his heart to study, obey, and teach the Law of the LORD to his determined people. 

Beloved, I pray that the hand of God will strongly be upon us as we determine in our hearts to know, obey, and share God's Word with others.

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21 Days of Prayer: Day #2

 

Illustration from Secrets of Shiloh
by talented artist Donny Finley

"Then the heads of the fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites rose up, everyone whose spirit God stirred up to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem." (Ezra 1:5)

Yesterday, 21 Days of Prayer began for hundreds of churches around the world. The verse God led me to focus on these three weeks is Ezra 1:5, praying that God will stir the spirits of His people to rebuild His church.

God said, "The effectual fervent prayer of My people can accomplish much (James 5:16)!" Beloved, please pray with us:

www.churchofthehighlands.com

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Study

 

Indiana grands

"For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel." (Ezra 7:10)

School started this week for the Indiana grands. It's study time again!

In his second letter to young Timothy, the old Apostle Paul wrote: "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

Are you studying the Word of God, beloved? It's a lamp unto your feet and the light for your path.

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Sands Through an Hourglass

 

"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog — it's here a little while, then it's gone." (James 4:14)

When I was a kid in the 60s, a television soap opera opened with: "Like sands through an hourglass, so are the days of our lives." My dear friend, Tammy, and I have a hit list — names of 40+ souls we're asking Jesus to save. Time ran out for two of them this week.

 "For everything there is a season . . . a time to be born and a time to die . . . a time to be quiet and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:1,2,7). Today, beloved, is the time to tell others about Jesus; tomorrow may be too late.

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Neither the Right Nor the Left

 

Fort Morgan Beach
photo by my Ben

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

In this age of left-wing-right-wing tug-of-war, God told us what to do over 2,500 years ago:

"Be strong and very brave. Be careful to obey all the [laws of God]. Do not deviate from them to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do." (Joshua 1:7)

Confused, beloved? "Study the Bible, God's Book of Instruction, continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." (Joshua 1:8)

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Success

 

grandgirl at work

"Don't live the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you . . . His plan is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2)

When Lowell Milken Center in Fort Scott, Kansas recently interviewed our granddaughter, the 2021 junior division 2nd prize ArtEffect Project winner, they asked:

"What makes an art piece successful?"

She answered:

"What makes a piece of art successful is if someone enjoys it. If the artist enjoys the process of creating art, then it is successful. If someone enjoys looking at the art, then it is successful."

The world defines success by power lines and dollar signs. God defines success as accomplishing His will and good purposes. May God grant you, beloved, success today!

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