The No-Worries Mate

My Rebecca and Stephen - God's chosen mate
April 3, 2004

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything! Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done." 
(Phil. 4:6)


          From the time my children were babies, I asked God to choose their mates according to His good will and perfect plans. When they "came of age" to date, I wish I could tell you that my faith in Father God never wavered. However, at times I did worry, but I also prayed...and prayed...and prayed...and prayed.
            In 2003, I witnessed the Lord change, in mid-stream, the course of my daughter's life to bring her Stephen - the perfect choice, no-worries mate who had been her best friend since 7th grade!

            What are you worried about today? Confess and repent of unbelief. PRAY to and thank Jesus - the ONE who has the best plans and is able to bring them to fruition! 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for choosing Stephen as the perfect answer to my 22 years of prayers!

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Put 'em Back the Way They Wuz!

Cast of Li'l Abner, senior play, 2000
my Rebecca as "Daisy Mae" (center, in her Grandmother Watson's white blouse)

"Belief in Jesus is a miracle produced only by the effectiveness of redemption, not by impressive speech, nor by wooing and persuading, but only by the sheer unaided power of God! The creative power of redemption comes through the preaching of the gospel, but never because of the personality of the preacher." ~ Oswald Chambers ~

          Her senior year, my Rebecca played Daisy Mae in the musical "Li'l Abner". One of the most entertaining numbers in that play is "Put 'em Back the Way They Wuz!"

          Ephesians 1:7 states that people in relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ have REDEMPTION through Jesus's blood according to the riches of His grace. The Lord Jesus Christ literally paid His own blood on the cross to buy you back from the damnation of your own sins so that He might restore you back to all God designed you to be!
          
          Jesus sets His followers free from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and one day the very presence of sin! O child of the King, you are FREE indeed!

"It is for FREEDOM that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery!" (Gal. 5:1)

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Unshackled!!!

My grandchildren running free, autumn 2011
(photo by my Rebecca)


"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake...and immediately all the doors were opened
and everyone's chains were unfastened!"
                                            (Acts 15:25-26)

         Yesterday, my wise husband casually commented, "Isn't it good to know that your storybooks are exactly at the place God wants them to be." 

           Hmmm, what's this, I thought, as I shifted the chain hanging heavily about my neck, trying to get more comfortable.

           "That the annoying chain of CONTROL," the Lord gently whispered. "Ever since I gave you this storybooks assignment, you do what I tell you to do, but then you struuuuuuggle and strrrrrrrain - laboring to produce the outcome. That's My job, remember? Your job is to listen, obey, pray, and enjoy the ride!"

           Immediately, that chain fell off. "Whew! That feels better, Lord!"

            "Your welcome, Jill."

      What has you shackled? Addiction? Anger? Jealousy? Bitterness? Unforgiveness? Sexual immorality? Control? or something else? "Rise up, O captive [sons and daughters]; loose the chains  from your neck (Isa. 52:2)! "Let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us RUN with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus" (Heb. 12:1-2)!

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Hey Cow!

Cows in the countryside, Shelby County, Alabama
(one looked at us!)

"Don't copy the behavior...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...Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to...you." (Rom. 12:2-3)

         One of my Rebecca's favorite games as a teen and still today is "hey cow". Game Rules: when riding by a cow pasture, roll down the car window and yell, "Hey cow!" One point is earned for every cow that looks at you (and is probably thinking, people are SO weird!).
          This week, I had a couple of "hey mama!" moments that got my attention! I'd asked for prayers regarding this morning's interview on abc 33/40's "Talk of Alabama", and out of the mouths of two of my babes, all grown up, came:

          "Hey Mama!" my Ben said. "You know when you worry about how you'll sound or what you'll say, you're really thinking about yourself. Just focus on God and what He wants to say through you!"

          "Hey Mama!" Rebecca emailed. "A while back, I wrote something that might help your insecurities and self-criticism of your southern accent, etc. I hope it encourages you." 
         Rebecca wrote: 

         Very, very few times have I known that God spoke to me. 
         But a few weeks ago, I'm sure it was God
         speaking directly to me. 

         I'd been worrying about disappointing someone. I felt like I'd
         let them down, and the world was disapproving of my
         actions. So I told myself, Rebecca, you have an audience of
         One. It doesn't matter what other people think about you. 
         You're not performing for people, you are performing for
         God...Then a jolt stopped me in mid-thought, and God 
         clearly said, "I am not the audience, REBECCA. YOU'RE
         THE AUDIENCE."

         The burden I'd carried for so long had been vanquished. No
         longer am I held captive by the pressures of performing for 
         anyone - not even for God! [Jesus is center stage.] I'm the
         audience, and all I have to do is respond to Him and the work 
         He is doing!

         Hey Friends! I'm passing on to you my children's wise advice: Don't worry, focus on Jesus, and enjoy the work He has set before you!

"Therefore...let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith!" (Heb. 12:1-2)

           

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Need a Lift?

Phillip working to lift a huge limb out of the creek

"He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord!" (Psalm 40:2-3)

         A few weeks ago, a giant red oak crashed to the ground on our farm. In the picture above, Phillip is working to get just one limb of that big tree out of the creek. A heavy chain and powerful tractor easily lifted what man could not. And God has done the same for every believer in Jesus Christ. 

         Every single man, woman, boy, or girl born on this earth dwells in the muddy pit of our own sin. It is written: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). That pit is a grave of death, and there is NO way for us to get ourselves out! But God offers each of us a lift - the free gift of eternal life through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Hear this, my friend, Jesus died so you might live! "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (Eph. 1:7).

        Recently, I came face to face with someone accused of committing a heinous crime. Deep within my own soul, I wrestled with the question: Do I really believe in the sufficiency of Jesus' blood? Do I really trust that the blood of Jesus is able and enough to pay for the darkest scarlet sin? My conclusion? YES!!!  YES!!!  YES!!!

"[God] has not dealt with [any of] us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities! For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward [all] those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:10-12). "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name...who has pardoned ALL our iniquities...who redeems our life from the pit" (Psalm 103:1-3)!

        Dear one, know, understand, and believe that the blood of Jesus is adequate to cleanse away ALL your sins! Believe on Jesus Christ today!

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The Whole Earth is Full of His Glory!

"Spiderweb" - photo by my Rebecca


"I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train
of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him...one
called out to another and said, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of
hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory!'" (Isaiah 6:1-3)



Each morning, I ask the Lord, "What would You tell the nations today?" Today, I believe He responded, "Tell the people to open
their eyes, for My glory is all around them!"

"Brown-eyed Susans" on our farm

"Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do
they spin" (Matthew 6:28)



"Mama and her ducklings" - photo by my Rebecca


Jesus said, "How often I wanted to gather your children together,
the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling." (Matthew 23:37)



"Mossy Garden" - photo by my Rebecca


"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You,
O God! My soul thirsts for God, for the living God!"
(Psalm 41:1-2)



Sunset on Chancellor Ferry Farm - photo by my Ben


"The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship!" (Psalm 19:1)

Therefore, brothers [and sisters] let us draw near [to God] with
a true heart!" (Heb. 10:22)

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A Boy, A Deer, and Father God

Game Camera shot of two bucks on our farm, August 2013

"Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him!" (Isa. 30:18)

          Monday, while walking the fields under the power lines on the farm, our 8-year-old grandson asked, "Granddaddy, where are all the deer?"
          As soon as that question shot from his mouth, a doe suddenly shot from the nearby woods, and Phillip said, "There's a deer!"
          Silently I prayed, thank You, Father! You are the Almighty God of the universe yet, in Your grace, You delight in surprising a little boy on a farm in Alabama. O God, You're an awesome God!

          Did you know that Father God longs to be close to you, yes you, through your faith in His Son, Jesus Christ? "Thus says the Lord, your Creator...who formed you...I have called you by name" (Isa. 43:1). But your sins have made a separation between you and your God (Isa. 52:2). "Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are as scarlet, [I will make them] as white as snow" (Isa. 1:18). Jesus said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28)!
          Father God longs for you to COME close to Him today. Will you go?

"Even before [God] made the world, God loved us and chose us to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. So we praise God for this glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son [Jesus]!" (Eph. 1:4-6)

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Antsy Pants

My Dan, on the heights of the Shenandoah National Park, 2001

"Do not be anxious about anything..." (Phi. 4:6a)


         When a book is published, the marketing phase normally involves author interviews on radio and television. Yesterday, my publicist called to tell me that I have an appearance on abc 33/40's "Talk of Alabama" with Nicole Allshouse next Tuesday, Oct. 15th at 9:00 a.m.. When I got off the phone, I asked Jesus to please change my antsy-pants frame of mind to caaaaaaaaalm-as-a cucumber.
         Today's devotional in L.B. Cowman's Streams in the Desert reads:
      "Quite a few Christians live in a terrible state of anxiety, constantly fretting over the concerns of life...What good has worrying ever accomplished? It has never made anyone stronger, helped anyone do God's will, or provided for anyone a way of escape out of their anxiety or confusion. Worry only destroys the effectiveness of lives that would otherwise be useful...So scale the heights of a life abandoned to God, and your perspective will change to the point that you will look down on the clouds beneath your feet." (Darlow Sargeant)

         Are you an antsy-pants - sitting on pins and needles dismayed, disquieted, anxious, apprehensive, and worried? God says, "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand (Isa. 41:10)!"
         Let us be strong and courageous, my friend, for the Lord our God will be with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9), helping us in whatever circumstance we face!

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Fall Family Fun

family fun on the farm for fall break

"...I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may life, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him..." (Deut. 30:19-20)

 fall flowers

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the [flowers] of the field will clap their hands." (Isa 55:12 NIV)

kids, grandkids, granddaddy, and granddog

       "One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall 
                    declare Your mighty acts!" (Psalm 145:4)

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Earthquake!!!

Family Fun on Lookout Mountain, 1997
(97 earthquakes were recorded around the world that year)

"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken," says the Lord who has compassion on you. (Isa. 54:10)

        As a little girl, I lived atop Lookout Mountain in the northeastern corner of Alabama. One day, when my family was in the playroom of our house, a laundry basket on the floor strangely started moving and the wagon-wheel light above us began to gently swing back and forth, back and forth. We later learned that a very mild earthquake had rumbled through our town.
        Violent political, economic, and social earthquakes around the globe seem to be shaking this old world apart at the seams. The Bible, however, gives high hopes and good news to people in relationship with Father God through faith in Jesus Christ!
        We are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable (Heb. 12:28) - a better country, that is, a heavenly one (Heb. 11:16). We are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior (Phil. 3:20)!
         Therefore, dear friends, (the Lord urges) us as temporary residents and foreigners (of this earth) to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against our very souls and to be careful to live properly among our unbelieving neighbors (1 Peter 2:11-12a).
         In these shaky, unstable days, let us cast our burdens upon the Lord. For He will sustain us and will never allow the righteous to be shaken (Psalm 55:22)!
         Brothers and sisters, stand firm, therefore, in your faith in Jesus!

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Squeaky Clean!

My muddy Ben, age 2
(That's CANDY in his mouth, by the way!)

"Jesus Christ, the faithful witness...and the ruler of the kings of the earth...To Him who loves us and washed us from our sins in His own blood...be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen!" (Rev. 1:5-6)

       I love this picture of Ben! Covered in mud with cowboy boots on his feet and a candy cane in his mouth, he looks like a mini-buckaroo just returning from a long, hard cattle drive. Needless to say, Ben and his clothes got a good washing that day!

     1 Cor. 6:9-11 says: "Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people - none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God!"
       And, praise Jesus,
"What God has cleansed, (is) no longer consider(ed) unholy!" (Acts 10:15)

      Have you received God's free gift of eternal life and the forgiveness and cleansing of sin by faith in Jesus Christ?

      YES? Then rejoice! Though your sins were as scarlet, they are now white as snow (Isa. 1:18)! As far as the east is from the west, so far has (God) removed your sins from you (Psalm 103:12)! In Jesus, you have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of your sins, according to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7)! Hallelujah and Amen!!!

      No? Then Jesus offers you His cleansing right now, today, this very minute - His free gift of everlasting life in the Kingdom of God. Jesus loves you greatly and gave Himself up for you, so that He might make you holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's Word (Eph. 5:25-26). If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raise Him from the dead, you will be saved from eternal death (Rom. 10:9) and squeaky clean! 

"Let us draw near (to God) with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (in Jesus), having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb. 10:22)

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Light of Life

Moonrise over the Coosa River:
God's light in the darkness

"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:5) "This is the message we have heard from Him...that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all...walk in the Light, as He Himself is in the Light...and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:5-7)

       In the late 1990s, my mother lay in a hospital, sick with cancer. The doctor told us it was time to call hospice, but I understood the Lord to say, "I will open a window of time for her to feel better for a while; then the end will come quickly."
       Contrary to all the doctor could see, determine, or feel, Mother improved, returned home, worked in her flowers, and mowed her lawn until Jesus, our Beloved, took her to the gardens of heaven in 2003 - five and a half years later!

        In last night's First Wednesday message, my pastor taught, "Base your perspective on what God's Word says not on what you see or feel." God's Word is the true reality - the Light of reality in Jesus. Today, I pray that you will read the Holy Bible, heed the voice of God, and walk in the Light!

       "Then Jesus said, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life!'" (John 8:12)

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God Can Change the Teeth of Lions!

My Ben, age 7

"...things work out when you trust in God." (Prov. 16:20b, The Message)

      
     At 7, my Ben studied and studied this picture of the lamb beside the lion and then asked, "When God changes the world, what will the lions eat?"
      I said, "That's a good question, Ben. Let's see what God tells us in the Bible."

"And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will
lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together; and a little boy shall lead them."
(Isa. 11:6)

      Together, we found Isaiah 11:7 which reads, "Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox."  
       With no doubts and in unwavering faith - fully believing God will do what He says He will do - Ben said, "Cool! But He'll have to change their teeth!"
       
        This past summer, my heart sank when I learned the retail price assigned to Secrets of Shiloh, because I'd hoped my storybook would be affordable for most families. When I took my concerns to Jesus, I believe He reassured me, "Jill, trust Me to work things out."
         
        The Lord is worthy to be trusted! God of the universe who parted the Red Sea, raised the dead, and will one day change the teeth of lions is able to work out your problems, too! So, today, let not your heart be troubled - trust Jesus!
          

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Bearing Abundant Fruit

My Rebecca and family among beautiful autumn fruit, 2009

"...we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of (God's) will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Col. 1:9-10)

        A few years ago, while visiting Birmingham for an SEC baseball tournament, the Lord told a man that he would one day pastor many people in my home city. The following year, that man moved his family to Alabama and planted a church of 34 people. Only twelve years later, that man, Chris Hodges, is now the senior pastor of Church of the Highlands - a congregation with over 20,000 active members and multiple campuses in several Alabama cities and correctional facilities.

      There is no limit to what God can do through one obedient servant walking with the Lord Jesus Christ. This morning, I prayed for you - yes you who is reading this post right now - that God will fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of Jesus, to please Him in all respects, bearing abundant fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of our God!

To learn more about Church of the Highlands, visit:
www.churchofthehighlands.com

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