Worthy is the Lamb

"baby lambs"
(photo by my Rebecca)

John saw Jesus coming and said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

My grandson and his little friend

            Recently, my grandchildren frolicked in the countryside with precious, little lambs on a shepherd's farm. Over twenty times in the book of Revelation alone, Jesus Christ, the awaited Messiah and Savior of the world, is called the Lamb of God.

            Peter wrote: "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold...but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God" (1 Peter 1:17-21)!

Ladies and gentlemen, the Lamb is risen! He is risen indeed!

O Lamb of God, "worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation...Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing...To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever! Amen" (Rev. 5:9,12,13).

Thank You, O Lamb of God, that today my friend, Elaine, is in paradise with You - absent from the body, at home with the Lord! (2 Cor. 5:8)

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The Day of Paradise

Our little  preview of paradise
Chancellor Ferry Farm

"My beloved responded and said to me, 'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along. For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The blossoms have appeared in the countryside; the time of singing has come, and the turtledove's cooing is heard in our land...Arise, my darling. Come away, my beautiful one.'" (Song of Solomon 2:10-13)

        Under the gentle stir of angels' wings, my friend, Elaine, awaits her Beloved's call to Paradise. It could be today.

        A sign was fastened above Jesus with these words: "This is the King of the Jews." 
        One of the criminals hanging [on the cross] beside Him scoffed, "So you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving Yourself - and us, too while You're at it!"
       But the other criminal protested, "Don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn't done anything wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom."
       And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with Me in Paradise!" (Luke 23:38-43)

        "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Mankind has been sentenced to die a death we deserve for our sins. But the Man who did no wrong willingly died in our place - in your place. Won't you fear God in your condemnation, call out to Jesus, and be pardoned? If you do, I assure you that one day you will be with Him in Paradise! 

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Author of Abundant Life

Our little princess, April 2007

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] came that they may have life, and have it abundantly!" (John 10:10)

        Four treatments down and sixteen to go! Yesterday, I asked the radiologist, "So how does radiation work anyway?"
        She explained that radiation damages the DNA of all cells. Since cancer cells have the ability to reproduce rapidly but cannot repair themselves, they are destroyed by radiation. Healthy cells, on the other hand, have the ability to repair damaged DNA and, therefore, continue to sustain LIFE!

         The devil, like cancer, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour, kill, and utterly destroy. Jesus, on the other hand, humbled Himself, came to earth in the form of a man, willing died on a cross, and rose to LIFE again so that all who will call on His name in faith will have LIFE - eternal life - and have it abundantly!

Want ABUNDANT LIFE? Call on the name of JESUS CHRIST today!

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Glory to God!!!

My Ben's first sketch for the Hoot Owl Hollow illustrations

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

       Ephesians 2:10 says we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Writing Christian storybooks for families is one work I believe God called me to do, and illustrating book #3 is a work I believe God called my Ben to do.

        The greatest work ever performed by man on this earth, however, was death on a cross. Though Jesus was God, He chose not to exercise His deity but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men, humbled Himself in obedience to the point of death on a cross (Phil. 2:6-8). 
       The night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to the Father, "I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do" (John 17:4). Hours later, He said, "It is finished!", bowed His head, and gave up His spirit (John 19:30). In Jesus' finished work, we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of our trespasses. We were snatched from darkness to the light, and from the dominion of Satan to God.
         "For this reason, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of JESUS, every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11)! 

Now, let's finish the work God has called us to do for His glory!
        

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Who's On the Mountain?

My Ben at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 1993

"How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" (Isaiah 52:7)

My Rebecca, Ben, and Dan
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 1993

              At the gateway to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the park ranger stuck her head in our van window and asked, "So, who's on the mountain today?" Without blinking an eye, 10-year-old Ben spouted, "George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln."

          Statistics show that people are 85% more likely to accept an invitation to church on Easter than any other Sunday. God says, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news [of Jesus]!" So, who's on the mountain this passion week of Christ - inviting someone to church?

"Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?...How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!" (Romans 10:13-15)

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Bye, O Baby Bunting

Our sweet Gabbi carrying "baby bunting"

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him." (Psalm 127:3)

     As the timer ticks down for our little bunting-in-the-oven to be fully done, I thought about the old English nursery rhyme my grandmother sang to me while we rocked long days ago:

Bye, O baby bunting

Daddy's gone a-hunting,

Gone to get a rabbit skin

To wrap my baby bunting in.

      The term "bunting" is a term of endearment; and very soon, this Memaw will get yet another bundle of joy to lullaby and kiss and hold and snuggle and rock and rock and rock!

         James 1:17 says, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." Have you thanked God for your precious "gifts" today?  

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Bare-feet, Butterflies, and Springtime

A butterfly and my princess

"For behold the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land; the time has arrived for pruning the vines, and the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land." (Song of Solomon 2:11-12)


Happy 7th birthday, Princess!!!
         Did you know that Jesus knew you long before He gave you to us? You are the Lord's  grand idea! He made all your delicate parts and knit you together in your mommy's womb. He designed you to love bare-feet in fresh, green grass, butterflies dancing on your cheek, and springtime.
      I'm so thrilled that you want to follow Jesus, and like a ewe lamb  behind her shepherd, I pray that you will follow Him all the days of your life! I love you sooooooooooooooo much!
                                                                           Memaw 

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Merrily We Roll Along!

(my grandkids' family portrait - lego medium)

"A merry heart does good, like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." (Prov. 17:22)

          As my dear mother used to say, "Life  is  fascinating!" You just never know what surprises may be waiting around the bend! 
          At the radiation center yesterday, to my astonishment, I was stripped down and pressed into a hot, marshmallow bed. Next, a guy on one side and a gal on the other played "tic-tac-toe" on my chest with permanent, black markers and then, if you can believe it, began snapping pictures of their human "game-board"!!! 
          Every ounce of me wanted to be pitiful! But when the Holy Spirit showed me the humor in the cockeyed situation, I laughed out loud, "You're not gonna put those photos on FaceBook, are you?"

          Some tragedy allows for no laughter, but many tribulations offer a choice between tears and joy. May I encourage you, dear one, to always search for the sunny-side of life? A merry heart truly works wonders on the soul.

Exert from my storybook-in-the-making, Hoot Owl Hollow:

Nonie laughed. “Well, first uv all, it ain’t my strength, child; it’s the Lord’s strength in me. And second uv all, ‘tis the set of the sails, and not the gales, that tell us the way to go’,” Nonie answered.

“That’s beautiful, Miss Nonie!” Andi marveled. “Did you make that up?”

Nonie grinned, “Naw. Ella Wheeler Wilcox, an American author and poet, wrote them purdy words. Life comes in seasons, Andi, and some seasons are awful hard. Ain’t nothing’ you kin do ‘bout that, but yer attitude in the midst of the pain is yer choice. The secret is to stay saddled up close to Jesus ever’day. Talk to Him and listen to what He’s got to say by stayin’ under His Word and a goin’ to His church. Then, even when ya got troubles; them troubles ain’t got you! Have ya ever heared of a feller named Jehoshaphat?”

        

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Don't Be Afraid

my little nephew and "his" fish

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." (Isa. 41:10)

       My nephew was super excited about fishing last Saturday. But when that little fellow reeled in his first catch, he threw down the pole and ran for the hills. This is as close as we could coax him to come toward the hair-raising foe! 
        Last night, as I filled out a mountain of forms for the radiology/cancer clinic I'm scheduled to visit today, I kinda felt like my nephew - throw down these papers, woman, and head for the hills!!! (Smile)
      I've been told that 365 times in Scripture, God says, "Do not fear!" What's scaring your socks off today? Fear not! O Christian. Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you, and His grace is always sufficient for you!
  

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Secret to Success

Panoramic scene of our Coosa River Cabin View
(photo by My Ben)

"He (Jesus) said to Simon (Peter), "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 
"Master," Simon replied, "we've worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I'll let down the nets." 
(Luke 5:4-5)


      After working hard for nearly three, long years on two unsuccessful storybooks, I'm inspired by Peter's obedience to try yet again what had not worked before. Therefore, in obedience to what I believe to be my Lord's instructions, I will cast manuscript number three into the deep sea of publishers.

       Have you followed the Lord's instructions to the best of your understanding with little or no success? Don't be discouraged, and don't give up! For the Lord God has said: 

"Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction...do not turn from it to the right of the left so that  you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:7-9) 

Secret to success? Trust and obey Jesus and His word!!!

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Happy Birthday, Superman!

My Phillip age 16.
(1971, the year of our first date...ahhhhhh)

"Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous. It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will maintain his cause in judgment. For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever. He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord!" (Psalm 112:1-7)

And how blessed is the woman whom God chose to be the wife of that righteous man who fears and trusts his Lord! "How handsome you are, my beloved, and so pleasant!...Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved...You have brought me to your banquet hall and your banner over me is love." (Song of Solomon 1:16, 2:3-4)

My love for you, Phillip, is wider than the sky, longer than the rivers, higher than the heavens, and deeper than the sea. 

Happy birthday, my Superman!!!

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"Ana Duo": Companions in the Work of the Gospel

My Rebecca and her Stephen
Wedding Day, April 3, 2004

"The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them in pairs ["ana duo"] to all the towns and places He planned to visit. These were His instructions to them: 'The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.'" (Luke 10:1-3 NLT)

          When my precious Rebecca was two, I started asking Jesus to not let her marry anyone but the man He had chosen for her. Through her teenage years, I refined that prayer - specifically requesting that God send my daughter her "ano duo" - companion in the work of the gospel.
        Almighty God's answer to this mother's prayers outrageously exceeded expectations and hopeful imaginations. As companions in the work of the Good News of everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord, Rebecca and Stephen love Him, obey His voice, and serve Him daily with gladness. 

Pray to Jesus for your children! For He is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us! To Him be all the glory to all generations forever and ever! (Eph. 3:20-21) 

Happy 10th Anniversary, Rebecca and Stephen!

We love you so!

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Temporary Separation

Sharon Leigh Abbott
April 2, 1956 -  May 26, 1979

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died...Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words." (1 Thess. 4:13-18)

      Today is my friend, Sharon's, birthday. As newborns, we were in Dekalb Co. Hospital together, as five year olds, Mrs. Hulsey's kindergarten class together, and as teenagers, the class of '74 at Fort Payne High School together. After high school, I graduated from Auburn University, got married, and then moved to Louisiana. Sharon, on the other hand, graduated from the University of Alabama and then moved to...heaven. 

       Although separation from a loved one is exceedingly sad, for Christians who belong to Jesus Christ, separation is most-assuredly temporary!

       Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus!!!

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed
He'll prepare for us a place.

When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory! 1

1 WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN, Eliza E. Hewitt, 1898.



      

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When You Pass Through Troubled Waters

My Dan (left), School of Infantry Graduation, 
US Marine Corps, 2004

"But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator...'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..." (Isa. 43:1-3)

         Five years ago today - April 1, 2009 - my youngest went to war in Iraq. When I asked, "How am I ever going to handle this, Lord?", He answered, "My grace is sufficient."

         Got troubles? Get Jesus. He'll get you through - Christ in you the hope of glory (Col. 1:27)!

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