Five Years Old Today

birthday grandboy

"And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52)

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday dear grandboy!

Happy 5th birthday to you!

Grandboy #3, may the Lord bless you abundantly on your 5th birthday, and like Jesus, I pray that you continue to grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and men by loving the Lord, obeying His voice, and holding fast to Him all the days of your life. I love you SO much! Memaw

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Digging for Treasure, One Verse at a Time

grandboys

"Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11)

On Christian radio yesterday, I heard the story of a seminary professor who challenged his students to find 50 truths in one Bible verse. When they finished the assignment, the professor said, "Now, go find 50 more."

Wanna give it the old college try, beloved? How many truths can you find in this verse (I'll help you get started):

"...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved..." (Romans 10:9)

Ready, set, go!

Truth#1 - Jesus is Lord.

Truth#2 - Father God raised Jesus from the dead.

Truth#3 - Salvation requires personal belief in resurrected Jesus.
Truth#4 - Saved (Greek: sozo) means delivered, protected, healed, made whole.

Keep going!

Truth#5 -


FYI - Professor Sparrow and the Clear Creek History Mystery now available at: www.DeepSeaPublishing.com

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In Search of a Teacher

the grandboy teaching Sunday School
2015

"You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food." (Hebrews 5:12)

For months now, our dear friend, Dan, has searched unsuccessfully for someone to teach a Bible study at the VA nursing home in North Little Rock where he lives. Time after time, men have promised to come and teacher but never showed up. Yesterday, I joined the Bible-teacher-search team and emailed two churches in Little Rock. So far, no responses, but we shall keep praying and persevere until the teacher is found! Stay tuned...

The writer of Hebrews was also in search of Bible teachers. In his commentary on Hebrews, Pastor John MacArthur writes: "Every believer is to be a teacher. Colossians 3:16 says, 'Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all wisdom He gives.' If the Hebrews had really obeyed the gospel of Christ, they would have been passing that message on to others."

A world lost in darkness is searching for teachers of truth, beloved. Are you passing the message of Christ along on to others?

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Memaw's Summer Bible School

grandboys
Birmingham Zoo

"So commit yourself wholeheartedly to these words of Mine...Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up." (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)

Today is the first day of Memaw's Summer Bible School for the four Birmingham grandboys. 

O Father God, 

Please teach these little boys to know and love You and grow them into mighty men of God who will love You, obey Your voice, and hold fast to You all the days of their lives. 

Teach them to praise You, worship You, and serve you with gladness. Teach them to love Your word and hide it in their hearts so they will not sin against You. Teach them to enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise. 

Teach them to not conform to the wicked ways of this evil world, but transform them by the renewing of their minds so they will know and do Your good and perfect will and bring You glory. 

Give them the grace and faith to believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ, to one day call upon You in His name and be saved, forgiven, and receive the free gift of eternal life. 

In Jesus' name I pray, Father,

Amen and amen.

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Sometimes Words Speak Louder

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)


An old adage says that actions speak louder than words, but on Mother's Day, the kind and loving and sweet and uplifting and encouraging words written to me by my kids—both the ones I birthed and the ones they married—shouted joy to this mama'a heart.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus spoke words heard round the world. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father but by Me." A narrow way to heaven? Yes. But open to everyone who will believe.

Lord, help us use our words today to love and encourage others and to show them the narrow way: Jesus Christ, God's Son.

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I'm Still Brave

grandboy



"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)

After bumping his noggin on the car door, the three-year-old grandboy announced while rubbing his head, "Ouch, I bumped my head, Memaw, but I'm still brave."

Got a few knocks and bruises from life, beloved? Stand firm in the faith. Be strong. Stay brave in Jesus.

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD." (Psalm 31:24)

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Dear Mothers

sweet daughter-in-law and grandboy
one of my favorite mothers

"Charm is deceitful, beautify is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)

Dear mothers,

Happy Mother's Day just doesn't cut it; you deserve a humongous round of applause!

Thank you for every prayer you pray and every Bible story you tell. 

Thank you for every runny nose you wipe.

Thank you for every stinky diaper you change.

Thank you for every boo-boo you kiss and every hour of sleep you miss. 

Thank you for every book you read aloud over and over and over and over again.

Thank you for every song you sing and favorite blanket you mend.

Thank you for every meal you cook and cookie you bake and toilet you clean and dirty sock you wash.

Thank you for chauffeuring the school "bus" and monitoring new-math homework and gluing a science project together.

Thank you for every handclap and every cheer at every football game and baseball game and soccer game and basketball game and gymnastic meet and swim meet and Irish step-dance performance and piano recital.

May your children rise up and call you blessed; may your husband praise you and love you like Christ loves the church. 

May you hear God's voice behind you saying, "Daughter, I am not unjust as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward My name, in having ministered and in still ministering to My saints" (Hebrews 6:10).

Thank you, mothers, and happy Mother's Day!!!

Jill 

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Dear Sue

bicycle-built-for-two and me
Waterside Inn, Sanibel Island

"So [Ruth] departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she "happened" to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech." (Ruth 2:3)

Dear Sue, 

A highlight of our Sanibel vacation was meeting you and your friends, Bonnie and Lisa. Thank you again for serving mankind as dedicated nurses.

I believe our meeting the three of you wasn't merely happenstance but a divine appointment—God ordering our steps for His good purposes. For the Bible says in the book of Acts 17:26 that God who created us also determines our appointed times and places. A beautiful story of His divine guidance is found in the the book of Ruth where He led a young Moabite women into the fields of Boaz to later become the great, great, great, times four, plus eight grandmother of Jesus. Yes! Jesus Christ!

So, what might God's good purposes have been for our paths crossing? Perhaps it was a gentle whisper from heaven reminding us that God sees us. God cares about us. God loves us. In fact, God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to live and to die on a cruel cross in our place. That's hard to imagine isn't it?

Why in this world would God send His only Son to die for you and me? Because, sadly to say, we are sinners. All of us. Every last one. Every person on this earth has done things God said not to do, and we have all neglected to do things He said to do. The Bible clearly teaches that the wages or payment for our sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23). For God so loved the world—He so loved you, Sue, and me—that He gave His only Son, Jesus, that whosoever believes in Him [believes that Jesus took the punishment for our sins] shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him. And whoever believes in Jesus is not condemned by their sins, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son (John 3:16-18).

I enjoyed our talks about God, Sue, but I ask your forgiveness that I never asked if you know Jesus as the Savior and Lord of your life. Perhaps God will guide you to this blog. I hope so.

May the Lord bless and keep you, my friend. May He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you peace. May you walk this journey of life hand and hand with Jesus till the day you meet Him face to face.

God bless you!

Jill 

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The Night The Heavens Shouted

Last night's sunset
Sanibel Island

"...All glory to [Christ Jesus] who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us...Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see Him—even those who pierced Him." (Revelation 1:5-7)

Last night's sunset shouted, "Glory to God!"

The sky shall unfold

Preparing His entrance

The stars shall applaud Him

With thunders of praise.

The sweet light in His eyes, 

Shall enhance those awaiting

And we shall behold Him,

Then face to face.

O we shall behold Him,

We shall behold Him

Face to face in all of His glory.

O we shall behold Him, 

Yes, we shall behold Him

Face to face,

Our Savior and Lord! 1

1 WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM. By American Southern gospel singer-songwriter Dottie Rambo.

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At Work To This Day

Waterside Inn
Sanibel Island, Florida

"My Father is always at His work to this very day..." (John 5:17)

Newly improved Waterside Inn on Sanibel Island has been our very favorite getaway destination for eleven years now—an oasis for physical, spiritual, mental, and marital refreshment.

The Gospel of John tells us that in Jesus-day Jerusalem a pool called Bethesda sat near the Sheep Gate. One day at this pool known for its healing qualities, the Savior approached a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years and asked him, "Do you want to get well?" After the man answered that he had no one to help him into the pool, Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured.

Because the healing took place on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute Jesus. In self-defense He said to them, "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working."

Beloved, never believe that you have no one to help you. The Father and Jesus are at work to this very day!

Cordage of the cares of life twine

Round about this heart of mine

And creep into my thoughts at night,

Invade my soul and choke it tight.

Then one day my toes touched sand

Along the shore beside my man

And rode a bike built just for two

Then watched the sun drop out of view.

In one short while I was astounded

My vines of woe could not be founded

Somehow they slipped away from me

And silently drifted out to see

Ahhh

How grand 'twould be to walk about

With no fears, no woes, no doubt

With heart at peace and mind at rest

My disposition at its best.

Then these words I did recall

An invitation for one, for all.

"Give Me your cares," My Jesus said.

"Lie down in peace upon your bed.

For I am greater than the sea.

Let go, let woes drift up to Me."

OUT TO SEA, by Jill Watson Glassco. Written on Sanibel Island, 2012.

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There is the Sea

Cedar Key, Florida

"There is the sea, great and broad..." (Psalm 104:25)

Last night at Cedar Key, Florida and tonight, on Sanibel Island, my Phillip and I are marveling at God's magnificent handiwork and one at heart with the psalmist who wrote:

"Bless the LORD, O my soul!

O LORD my God, You are very great;

You are clothed with splendor and majesty,

Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak,

Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain...

He established the earth upon its foundations...

The mountains rose; the valleys sank down

To the place which You established for them...

He made the moon for the seasons;

The sun knows the place of its setting...

O LORD, how many are Your works!

In wisdom You have made them all;

The earth is full of Your possessions.

There is the sea, great and broad...

Let the glory of the LORD endure forever;

Let the LORD be glad in His works...

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God 

While I have my being...

Bless the LORD, O my soul.

Praise the LORD!"

(Psalm 104)

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Restoration

Great Spirit Mountain ("haystack") Manitou Cave
Fort Payne, Alabama

"Now in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan...to the house of the LORD saying, 'Go...deliver [the money] into the hand of the workmen...who are in the house of the LORD to repair the damages of the house'..." (2 Kings 22:3-5)

In my hometown of Fort Payne, Alabama, a hot tourist spot in the 1960s was Manitou Cave—a historical cavern located near the "Trail of Tears" where Sequoyah, the creator of the Cherokee written language, was believed to have lived at one time. The Native-American syllabary is still visible on the walls of this ancient, God-crafted museum.

Sadly, the cave closed to public tours in 1979. The once beautiful grounds became overgrown with tall weeds and trees, and the old gift shop fell into severe disrepair.

Yesterday, while visiting dear friends in Fort Payne, on a whim, I said, "Let's go see if we can find Manitou Cave." 

Not only did we find the location, we met the delightful, new owner, Annette Reynolds, who is working through a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to restore and preserve this historical, national landmark! Visit: www.manitoucaveofal.org  

In the Old Testament book of 2 Kings, we find the story of Josiah, an eight-year-old boy crowned King of Judah, a kingdom in disrepair. Across his thirty-one-year reign, the righteous king renovated the house of the LORD, rediscovered the book of the law, and restored the wayward nation back the to ways and laws of God.

Today, we live in a nation and world of disrepair—far from the ways and laws of holy God. Be encouraged, beloved. A time for restoration is coming! "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed to you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets in ancient times." (Acts 3:19-21)

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National Day of Prayer 2019

grandgirl
2015

"Have mercy upon us, O LORD, for we are in trouble..." (Psalm 31:9)

O Holy Father, 

Please have mercy upon the United States of America for we are in deep trouble. You are the great and awesome God who keeps covenant with those who keep your commands, but we have sinned, acted wickedly, and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments, and we do not listen to Your voice, doing what seems right in our own eyes.

Righteousness belongs to You, O LORD, but to us open shame. Please bring us—democrats and republicans, red and yellow, black and white, male and female, old and young, rich and poor—back to our knees in fear of the LORD. 

May Your people who are called by Your name humble ourselves and pray and turn from our wicked ways. Please hear our prayers, O LORD, forgive our sins, and heal our land. Make us once again one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So help us God!

In Jesus' name we pray,

Amen and Amen

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Captain Grandboy

Captain Grandboy

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us." (Ephesians 3:20 The Message)

To you and me, it's a treehouse in the woods at the farm; to the grandboys, it's a sea bound pirate ship!

In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul proclaims that Almighty God is able to do far more than we could ever imagine. Never stop imagining, beloved, what God can and will do for you. He is more than able!!!

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