The Real Hoot Owl Hollow

The real Hoot Owl Hollow, 1975

"Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever! Amen!" (Heb. 13:20-21)

         I'm bursting with excitement over my next storybook in the making. Although the book, Hoot Owl Hollow, is fictitious, our friend, Liz, lives in the real Hoot Owl Hollow tucked beneath the North Georgia Mountains near the small town of Hiwassee. Years ago, I first laid eyes on this lovely cove as a college student with my boyfriend's (later husband's) family.

            

Me in one of the many mountain creeks, 1975

               Phillip was enamored with the fresh water spring piped out of the mountains.

Phillip's niece

       In the picture below of my Phillip drinking from the spring, you see a trailer in Liz's cow pasture where her visitors stayed. (In the book, Andi rents the trailer from Nonie Baskin.)

        Forty years ago as a college student, the Lord was equipping me to do a small work that only recently came to fruition: writing  Christian storybooks for families. But in forty years on the back side of a desert in Midian, God prepared Moses to do a great work: deliver an entire nation from slavery!

       Hebrews chapter 13 teaches that our God, the One who raised Jesus from the dead, will indeed equip His disciples to do His will and accomplish that which pleases Him if we remain devoted to Him. Oswald Chambers once said, "One life totally devoted to God of more value to Him than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit."

O Christian, stay devoted to Jesus and just watch to see what valuable works God will accomplish through you for His glory!

         

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Graduation Day!

My Senior Portrait, 1974

Senior Prom
My Phillip and me, April 1974

Senior Play
Me as "Miss Spindle"
May 1974

Valedictorian, Class of '74
 (me)

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim. 4:7)

         Forty springs ago, I graduated from Fort Payne High School. Today, I graduated from radiation treatments. 

  

          Whatever course life brings, stick with Jesus. He'll see you through to the very end. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

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Fortitude!

Beaver Dam on our farm

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

        A couple of weeks ago, my Phillip broke up a small beaver dam on the north end of our fishing pond. Five days later, we discovered that those busy-beavers had rebuilt a stronger and much larger dam!       

        The dictionary defines fortitude as: mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously, or the strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage!
         In resilience, endurance, backbone, and true grit, beavers truly are creatures of fortitude.

O Lord Jesus, in my readers' difficulties, adversities and pains, please give them the fortitude of the beavers! (And in the burns, rashes, and fatigue of final radiation treatments, please also help me to be courageous and resilient!)

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Constant Presence of God

Saturday's fiery sunrise over the Coosa River
(photo by my superman)

"The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness." (Psalm 105:39)











           At our  river cabin early Saturday morning, my Phillip captured this fiery sunrise through the thick morning mist over the Coosa River - a heavenly reminder of the constant Presence of God.

         O Christian, the Lord is your Keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and coming in from this time forth and forever (Psalm 121:5,7-8).
         Therefore, be anxious for nothing (Phil. 4:6), because the Lord is your Refuge and your Fortress, your God in whom you trust. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark (Psalm 91:2,4).
   

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God Loves 5th and 6th Graders!

"Samba"
(Photo by my Rebecca)

"Get up and stand up on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you my minister and witness..." (Acts 26:16)

         While my Ben draws the illustrations for my soon to be released Hoot Owl Hollow, my Rebecca hunts down and shoots (with a camera that is)  models for some of the pictures. Samba is the perfect model for "Joe", the chocolate lab sleeping at Sam's feet, don't you think?

       Yesterday, my trip to Cornerstone Christian School was a real "ah-ha!" moment for me. Why am I working day after week after year writing Christian storybooks? It's because God loves 5th and 6th graders, and He's creatively drawing children unto Himself  through stories! Wow! Now how cool is that?

      Dear Christian, are you up? Are you standing on your feet? God has appeared unto you, as well, for the purpose of being His minister and witness to somebody! Time's a wastin', so let's get going!

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:19-20)

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Potential!

5th and 6th graders
Cornerstone Christian School

"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!" (1 Cor. 9:24)


      Today, while visiting 5th and 6th graders at Cornerstone Christian School, I stood before a bright sea of potential - God's masterpieces, created in Christ Jesus for good works He planned long ago (Eph. 2:10).

       In the race of life, each of these children will encounter the crossroads between the narrow way with Jesus which leads to abundant life and and the broad way of the world - a certain road  to potential's death.

O Lord Jesus, Son of God and Great Shepherd, 
       Please lead every precious boy and girl I met today down Your path of righteousness for Your name's sake. I pray they will love You, obey Your voice, and hold fast to You all the days of their lives! Help them to serve You with whole hearts and willing minds. Empower them with every good thing to do the good work You've assigned to them, and enable them to stay the course, keep the faith, and finish well the race of life for Your glory! 
                                           In Jesus' name I pray. Amen and amen. 

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Way to Go!

Wedding Day "wrestling match"
My kids, April 3, 2004

"Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for You!" (Psalm 143:8)

          Through the night, I wrestled with whether to do "next step" treatment after radiation that is highly recommended by my doctors. This morning, I pleaded with the Lord to please declare the winner in my tug o' war. 
           Jesus gently reminded me to simply cast my cares on Him and trust that surely He will show me the way to go.

         Are you at a crossroads - wrestling with which way to go? Talk to Jesus, cast your cares on Him, and confidently trust Him to show you the way to go.

"...He will show favor to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears, He will answer you...your Teacher will not hide Himself any longer. Your eyes will see your Teacher, and whenever you turn to the right or to the left your ears will hear this command behind you: 'This is the way. Walk in it.'" (Isaiah 30:19-21)

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Patience

Four illustration for Hoot Owl Hollow
by talented artist, Ben Glassco
(my boy)

"Therefore, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts because the coming of the Lord is near." (James 5:7-8)

       Our microwave society has cultivated impatience, and I admit being infected with the I-want-it-now syndrome. In the making of a storybook, after a manuscript is completed, it's really difficult for me to patiently wait for the artist to finish the illustrations. 
       In the 40 Days with Jesus booklet, Sarah Young wisely writes from God's perspective, "Enjoy the tempo of a God-breathed life by letting Me set the pace." 

      Two thousand years ago, James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, declared that the coming of the Lord was near. The apostle Peter added in his second epistle that, in the last days, mockers will say, "Where is the promise of His coming?" Peter answered, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:3-9)

Are you impatiently demanding God's promises now? Perhaps He's patiently waiting on you! Hmmmmmm...

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Prepare for the Storm

My favorite grandDAUGHTER
(and, by the way, my one-and-only grandGIRL)

"Anyone who listens to My teachings and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against the house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears My teachings and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods came and the winds beat against the house, it will collapse with a mighty crash!" (Matt. 7:24-27)

         Alabama's a bit on edge today amidst predictions of severe weather approaching. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus clearly taught His followers how to prepare for life storms: listen to Him and do what He says.

     Wanna be prepared for severe life storms? Listen to God by reading the Holy Bible and then be "a doer of the word, not a hearer only" (James 1:22) - OBEY!

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Casting Off Restraint

Jesus, Phillip, and me, September 10, 1977
"A cord of three strand is not quickly torn apart." (Eccl 4:12)

"I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation. [Jesus], the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:21-14)

       One of the sweet radiation therapist at Kirklin Clinic and I attend the same church. When Beth's on duty during my treatments, she always plays Christian praise music for me over the sound system. Yesterday, because I can't move during radiation, I seriously had to restrain myself from lifting hands in worship to Jesus as this song played:

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly trust in Jesus' name.

Christ alone; cornerstone

Weak made strong; in the Savior's love

Through the storm, He is Lord

Lord of all!!!

When darkness seems to hide His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

In every high and  stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil.

Christ alone; cornerstone

Weak made strong; in the Savior's love

Through the storm, He is Lord

Lord of all!!!1

O Christian, cast off all restraint and lift your hands in praise to Jesus now!

"You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, and I extol You! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting!" (Psalm 118:28-29)

1 Hillsong United's "Cornerstone"

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Journey of Faith

My Rebecca, Stephen, Ben, and Dan
Mother's Day hike, 2004

"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Heb. 11:8)

My kids at the top of the mountain

"For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who  by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight!" (Heb. 11:32-34)

My Ben running down the mountain

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance  and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith!" (Heb. 12:1-2)

        For years, hiking a trail at Oak Mountain State Park was our Mother's Day family tradition. In these pictures taken in 2004, Rebecca and Stephen were newlyweds, Ben was a first-year kicker at Tusculum College, and Dan was headed to U.S. Marine Corp bootcamp at Parris Island - all, like Abraham, embarking on untried journeys, not knowing where they were going.

       In 2011, the Lord called me to the land of children's storybooks. His instructions: "Stay close to Me and do everything I tell you to do." Though I'm still uncertain as to where He's taking me, this I know for sure -

Those who hopefully trust in the Lord will not be disappointed. (Isa. 49:23)

Faithful is He who called me, who also will do it! (1 Thess. 5:24)

and

Not one of the good promises which the Lord has made will fail; all will come to pass. (Joshua 21:45)

       Faith, we are told, is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen (Heb. 11:1). Go forth, O Christian! Run where He calls, making disciples and teaching them to obey everything He commands us to do! For lo, Jesus is always with us, even to the end of the age!

From soon-to-be-released Hoot Owl Hollow:

Andi took another bite of the smoked turkey sandwich. If the ad’s still there, I’m applying tonight, she resolved. Checking over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching, the attractive, young woman snatched the Atlanta News off the break room table and searched the classified section. “Here it is,” she whispered. Her heart raced at the very notion of carrying out such a risky escapade.

WANTED: Male DVM willing to work in rugged conditions.

Apply to: Dr. Sam Parks, 202 Buckeye Rd., Bottle Knob, GA  30546

She jotted the name and address on a notepad and buried it in her coat pocket. 

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Saved from our Enemies

My Dan
Iraq desert dust storm, 2009

"Though I am surrounded by troubles, You will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You will reach out Your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me." (Psalm 138:7)

        God warns us in 1 Peter 5:8 that our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Although unseen, Satan, the enemy of our souls, is real, alive, and on mission to kill, steal, and destroy the followers of Jesus Christ.
        Yesterday, peace came over me after several days of oppression. "Something" had taken place in the spiritual realm on my behalf, and I am grateful to my Shield and Defender, our Ancient of Days. 

        In Psalm 18, King David sang, "I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge...I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies...He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of deep waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy...He rescued me because He delighted in me."

        O Christian, when the devil presses you down, lift up the name of Jesus. He is your Deliverer, and you are His delight!

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Stuck

"Miss Sunbeam"
(Pine Bluff, Arkansas)

"I am the Lord, and I WILL bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I WILL deliver you from their bondages. I WILL also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I WILL take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." (Ex. 6:6-7)

        "Miss Sunbeam" has been swinging atop an animated  billboard at the foot of Main Street in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for about 65 years - swinging her little heart out but not going anywhere. 

         Many people are working their little hearts out everyday, but like "Miss Sunbeam", not going anywhere - STUCK in the ditch of routine and ordinary, if you will. I just finished reading Pastor Chris Hodges' new book, Four Cups, God's Timeless Promises for a Life of Fulfillment. From God's four promises in the Jewish Passover meal, this bestselling author and my pastor says, "No matter where we are on our spiritual journey, these four cups of promise [salvation, deliverance, redemption, and fulfillment] provide a simple, powerful, unforgettable way of reaching our potential and growing closer to God."

          Want to know your God-given purpose and live a fulfilled life? Go after God with your whole heart, surrender to the Master's redeeming hand, and fulfill the dreams God has for you! (If you need practical "how tos", read Chris Hodges' Four Cups!)

"I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6)

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Stand Firm. Be Brave. Be Strong.

My mother and daddy, April 1944
Riverside, California

"Behind the cloud the starlight lurks, through showers the sunbeams fall; for God who loveth all His works, has left His hope for all."  John Greenleaf Whittier


          Seventy springs ago, Europe had been invaded, Pearl Harbor had been bombed, and American troops were advancing across the Pacific; yet in a one-room apartment near his military base, a young bride happily gazed into her new husband's eyes with great hopes and plans for their future. As radiation treatments become a bit more challenging, my lived-life-well mother inspires me to stand firm in Jesus, be brave, and be strong (1 Cor. 16:13).

      In life's raging storms, I encourage you to joyfully gaze into the eyes of your Savior, Jesus, and discover great hopes and plans for your future. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

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