He Still Calls Me Sweetie Pie

My Phillip and me
High School Sweetheart Banquet, 1973
First Baptist Church, Fort Payne, Alabama

"My beloved said to me, 'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come away with me.' My beloved is mine, and I am his." (Song of Solomon 2:10,16)

After practically forty-two years of marriage, he still calls me Sweetie Pie and takes me on romantic getaways. We're headed to Fairhope on beautiful Mobile Bay this afternoon.

This morning I read: "The world's longest longitudinal studies show that close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy through their lives. Close ties protect against discontentment, delay mental and physical decline,  and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes."

Therefore, beloved, like our Pastor Chris often says to husbands and wives: Add a log to the romantic fire and be intentional about close relationship. Most importantly, continually fan into flame your love for Jesus Christ!

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United

Serve Day 2019
Sylacauga, Alabama

"Look!" He said. "The people are united...nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!" (Genesis 11:6)

Last Saturday, over 900 churches around the globe united to perform acts of kindness in the name of Jesus Christ throughout their communities.

In Sylacauga, Alabama, our group grilled 500 burgers, gave away sack lunches, mowed grass, picked up trash, hauled away junk, handed out children's books, prayed with folks, and invited them to church.

In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, God Himself declared that people united are unstoppable. So, beloved, find your people and share the love of Jesus Christ in your neighborhood and community! 

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

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Gentleness

grandboy and his sweetheart

"But the fruit of the Spirit is...gentleness..." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Our rip-roaring, full-speed-ahead grandboy transformed into quite the gentleman when this pretty, little friend came over to play last Saturday. At nap time, he softly sang to her and gently rocked his "sweetheart" to sleep.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul described the transformation that takes place when we're driven by the Spirit of God rather than our own flesh. He wrote:

"When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these...But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:19-23)

Who are you following today, beloved? Your own sinful nature or  the Holy Spirit of God?  

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Which Side Are You On

Grands
2010

"We were God's enemies, but He made us His friends through the death of His Son." (Romans 5:10)


When you meet somebody for the first time in the great, college-football state of Alabama, a standard question is: "So, which side are you on—Alabama or Auburn?" 

There's no middle ground.

Neither is there middle ground when it comes to the cross of Christ, beloved. Every soul is on one side or the other. Lost or saved.  Enemy or Friend. Which side are you on?

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What  privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer.1

1WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS. Joseph Scriven, 1855.

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Remember

me
Easter 1963

"These things I remember, and I pour out my soul within me..." (Psalm 42:4)

As I'm writing next year's book set in 1963 Fort Payne, Alabama, I'm constantly texting questions to my two, dear brothers and beloved friend, Mary, asking their help in remembering people, places, and happy events of our childhood. Yesterday, I wrote (with help):

At Sunday School the next morning, Jill sat next to Mary. Mr. Watson had shined her black, patent leather shoes before they left the “neighborhood.” In the front row of the small, wooden chairs, Jill smoothed the full skirt of last spring’s Easter dress—a cantaloupe-colored frock that Mrs. Watson had made on her new, Pfaff sewing machine. Two appliquéd butterflies brightened the square, sailor collar.

Mrs. Shugart plucked the piano keys while Mrs. Crow and Mrs. Cobble led the children singing:

This is my Father’s world

And to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings

The music of the spheres.

In Psalm 42, in a time of distress, King David remembers, with tears, past years when he led the festival procession in joy and thanksgiving. When the king finds himself in a place of discouragement, he remembers the One who is able to help:

"O my God, my soul is in despair within me; therefore, I remember You from the land of Jordan." (Psalm 42:6)

Longing for good ol' yesterdays, beloved? Remember your Father God who gives strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

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Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle

My gang
June 2019


"Be still, and know that I am God!" (Psalm 46:10)

Yesterday, Memaw's Bible School:

Memaw: "Jesus was a master storyteller."

Grandboys: wiggle, wiggle, wiggle

Memaw: "One time, He told the story of a shepherd with 100 sheep."

Grandboys: scoot the chair, scoot the chair, scoot the chair

Memaw: "One night, the shepherd counted his sheep: one, two, three, four....ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine. Oh no, one sheep was missing!"

A grandboy: "Memaw, I saw a bird up in the tree!"

Today, my visit with Jesus:

Me: "I love You, Lord!"

Jesus: "Jill, soak in My presence. I will energize and enlighten you."

BUZZ. I jump up and run to move clean laundry from washer to dryer.

Jesus: "Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, just like those grandboys. Jill, be still and know that I am God!"

Your visit with Jesus:

What's your story, beloved?

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A Brighter Day

my family
1989

"Jacob...traveled on to Succoth. There he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was named Succoth (which means shelter)." (Genesis 33:17)

In the middle of the night many years ago, the Lord indisputably called our young family to provide temporary housing for women and children in a local shelter. We named the ministry Succoth from Genesis 33:17.

Recently, I found a poem that one of the dear ladies wrote to us  in 1993 when my father was very ill with cancer. Esther wrote:

While sitting here with nothing to do,

I suddenly thought of you.

And all the things you've done for us

and helped to see us through.

I wondered what I could do for you,

In this time of desperation.

For our gratitude, I first thought prayer,

Then words of inspiration

They always seem to lighten the load

In every situation.

For this thing you're going through right now,

Is soon to be okay.

God knows how deep the hurt you feel,

And there'll be a brighter day.

So hold on to your faith,

And let God work things out.

He knows exactly what to do

When we're running all about.

He loves us all, and we must try to understand,

The mysterious ways that things work out.

Must have been in plan.

Esther, wherever you are now, I hope and pray you've found your brighter day!

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Angels Pushed Us

my superman

"For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go." (Psalm 91:11)

Last night, about halfway to our destination, the truck filled to the top with kind and generous donations for a homeless family dropped into "limp-home" mode.

Two blocks from their new house, the old Penske refused to go any farther. 

We prayed. 

We prayed hard! 

And God literally sent His angels to push us up the last hill to a new home and new beginnings.

To God be the glory, great things He has done!!!


(On a side note, after God's work was done, the truck ran like a charm. Smells a bit devilish to me, don't you think?)

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Apples of Gold

my friend, Tammy, and her sweet kids
2007

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." (Proverbs 25:11)

Ding! an early morning, very encouraging, and timely text from my sweet friend, Tammy. Apples of gold in settings of silver. 

Beloved, who will you encourage today?

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Smile for the Day

"A merry heart does good like a medicine..." (Proverbs 17:22)


Need a face lift, beloved? SMILE.

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Freedom to Serve

my grandboy and son

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." (Galatians 5:13)

Today, as we celebrate Independence Day with family, hot dogs, homemade ice cream, and fireworks, let us serve one another in love and pray for our country—her people and her leaders—to turn back to God in love, fear, and trembling.

"Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling...Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." (Psalm 2:10-12)

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The Aerial Chair

my dear brother, Mark




"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles..." (Isaiah 40:30)

In Hannah Hurnard's Hinds' Feet on High Places, Much-Afraid finds herself at the foot of a steep-walled mountain. Just where the insurmountable cliffs loomed the steepest and highest, an overhead cable with aerial chairs hung between the foot of the pinnacle and the summit far above, offering the little shepherdess a way to the top without any effort on her part.

Beside her, the Shepherd smiled and said, "Come, Much-Afraid, we will  seat ourselves in the first chairs. All you have to do is to trust yourself to the chair and be carried in perfect safety up to the place to which I wish to take you."

In a minute, they were moving smoothly and steadily toward the High Places which had looked impossibly out of reach, supported entirely from above.

Across my eight-year, book-writing journey, I've searched and hoped and prayed for an "aerial chair" to take my little children's books to places that seem impossibly out of reach. Recently I've come to understand that the "Aerial Chair" has been with me all along. Heavenly Father supports me from above, Lord Jesus sits beside me everyday, and His Spirit carries me along the way—all the power needed to take a storybook or His child in perfect safety to the places He wishes her to go.

Looking for a way up, beloved? Turn your eyes and your heart upon God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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Felicia

my dear friend, Felicia
GED graduation day

"...I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:19)

Across our nine-year friendship, I've watched my friend, Felicia, travel the hills and deep valleys of life. Seven years ago, a precious, baby girl went straight from her womb to the arms of Jesus, and a few short weeks ago, her firstborn son joined Miracle Grace in heaven as a victim of street violence. 

Today, Felicia and two children are residents of a women and children's shelter, but not for long. Monday, she signs the lease on a three-bedroom home that God has provided and completely furnished through the kind and generous hands of my neighbors and friends.

Felicia texted: "Once you and I learn to completely trust God, He can and will make a way out of no way!!!!! Words can't express my gratitude and the way me and my kids are so very thankful for everything!!!!"

Thank You, Lord, for providing for Felicia and thank you, good neighbors, for being the hands and feet of Jesus!

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God Is So Good

grandkids

"The LORD has been so good to me! How can I ever pay Him back?" (Psalm 119:12)


When his mommy asked three-year-old grandboy a question, he answered, "Yeah."

Looking for "yes ma'am," his Mommy said, "What should you say?"

Grandboy: "Please?"

Mommy: "What other words should you say?"

Grandboy: "God is so good."


Searching for the right words, beloved? "God is so good" will do!

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