Happy Anniversary, Superman

my superman and me
2014

"May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine." (Song of Solomon 1:2)

Forty-two years ago today, I walked down an aisle and into the arms of Phillip Glassco, and, all praise to Jesus, I've never left.

Happy 42nd annniversary, superman!

More than the greatest love the world has known,

This is the love I give you alone.

More than the simple words I try to say,

I only live to love you more each day.

More than you'll ever know, my arms long to hold you so.
My life will be in your keeping, waking, 
sleeping, laughing, weeping.
Longer than always is a long, long time, 
but far beyond forever you are gonna be mine.
I know I've never lived before
and my heart is very sure
No one else could love you more.1

1 MORE. Riz Ortolani and Nino Olivierpo, 1962.

(Sung by Polly Ireland at our wedding)

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When There Is No King

Grandgirl
2019ish

"In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in His own eyes." (Judges 17:6)

Tomorrow, my ladies group is studying the kingship of Jesus. 

In the Old Testament, God promised King David that his heir would sit on the throne forever. In the New Testament, David's royal heir is revealed: Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Ephesians 1:20-22 tells us that God seated Jesus at His right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And God put all things in subjection under Christ's feet.

Revelation 19:16 reveals that the name written on Jesus' robe and thigh: KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Philippians 2:10-11 foretells 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. 

In the book of Judges, we are reminded that the lack of a king leads to decline and devastation.  

Beloved, in your day-to-day life: your marriage, your kids, your checkbook, your relationships, your social media, your time, your career, your fun, your body, your soul (mind, will and emotions), your spirit, is King Jesus on the throne?

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Through All Generations

Granddaddy, Bell, and grandboy

"For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations." (Psalm 100:5)

Last evening, the five-year-old grandboy played his first soccer game and scored his first goal on a field where his dad played soccer as a boy.

This morning, just like his dad does on his way to work, the grandboy called on his way to school for a morning blessing: that God will make him the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. That God will bless the work of his hands and keep him safe.

I've, now, witnessed God's faithfulness to my great-grandparents, to my grandparents, to my parents, to me, to my children, and, now. to my grandchildren. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your faithfulness through all generations! 

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.

Serve the LORD with gladness;

Come before Him with joyful singing.

Know that the LORD Himself is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

And His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

For the LORD is good;

His lovingkindness is everlasting

And His faithfulness to all generations!

(Psalm 100)

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The Comparison Disasters

artwork by my late friend and extremely talented artist
Myron (Bill) Carter

"God has given each of you a gift from His greatvariety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serveone another." (1 Peter 4:10)

Next week, I'm headed to Indiana to teach a creative-writing workshop for seventh-through-twelfth-grade homeschoolers. (Considering that I'm a "memaw" from Alabama with a heavy southern accent and no formal creative-writing training since freshman English composition at Auburn University over forty years ago, this session will undoubtedly be the most unorthodox writing class these kids will ever attend in all their born days!)

One point of advice, however, for these young writers is to never compare yourself with others. Comparison can only lead to one of two disasters: discouragement or pride.

Instead, each of us must work hard and trust God to grow and mature our God-given abilities and use those abilities to serve others well.

Got talent, beloved? Thank God and serve others.

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Work Hard

my brother, Mark
workin' hard at the gym

"Servants...don't just to the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God...Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)

After finishing a very rough draft of next year's children's book, I emailed my dear friend and editor, Tammy, asking if she'd help me from the ground up. 

But then, I heard...

1. A best-selling author say, "Don't ever send your rough draft to an editor. (YouTube)
2. When you restfully trust God to do it, the work will be completed and will be done well. (Streams in the Desert)
3. Trust God to write your story. (Christian radio program)

Yes, Sir, Lord. I hear You loud and clear. Let the hard work begin!

Got work, beloved? Are you listening for God's instructions?

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No Wool Over His Eyes

grandboys and edible play-doh

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

Aunt Loretta gave me the recipe for edible play-doh—a fun tool to help our new kindergartner develop his fine motor skills. As we rolled and cut and shaped play-doh letters of the alphabet, our grandboy said, "This is like schoolwork." (There's no pulling the wool over that boy's eyes.)

To pull the wool over someone's eyes is a phrase from early 1800s meaning to fool, deceive, or hoodwink. The term originated from the early 1600s when judges and nobility wore wool wigs.

In the New Testament book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul warned believers: "Do not deceive yourselves. You will reap what you sow," which serves as a valuable reminder that consequences will follow actions—good and bad. 

Galatians 6:8 goes onto say: "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

What we sow today, we reap tomorrow. What's in your seed bag, beloved?

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What Would Jesus Think?

grandboy

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9-10)

In our social-media-infested culture, we've come to value and loudly voice our own personal opinions over God's TRUTH. Since the way we think determines the way we act, perhaps the popular WWJD (What would Jesus do?) bracelets should instead read: WWJT—What would Jesus think?"

The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, wrote: "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him turn to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him... 'For My thoughts are NOT your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD."

Want to live life God's way, beloved? Check your thoughts. Do they align with God's TRUTH in His word? After all, the only opinion that truly matters is His.

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Run With Endurance

Grandboy
(runner on the right)

"...let  us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)

"Let us expect

that God is going 

to use us.

Let us have the courage

and go forward,

looking to 

God to do

great things."

D. L. Moody

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V-I-C-T-O-R-Y

Wrestling Awards Night
Fort Payne High School, 1972
L-R Phillip Glassco, Captain, State 4th place, Most Dedicated, (my superman)
Dwight Whitmire, Most Improved
Coach Gehrig Giles
Russell Durham, State Champ, Booster Most Valuable, Captain

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

Yesterday, Jesus turned my writer's block into five more chapters in next year's children's book: Once Upon a Neighborhood, A Fort Payne, Alabama Story.

In anything and everything that is set before you, beloved, call upon the Lord. 

"Thanks be to God who give us the 

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y

through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

(1 Corinthians 15:57)

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Orange-Glazed Pound Cake

my brothers (Rocky and Mark) and me
Christmas, 1963

"...Come back!..." (Hosea 14:1)

Because as kids we drank ten to fourteen gallons of milk per week, to save money, my mother mixed Carnation dry milk with Pet homogenized milk that the Pet milkman delivered to our doorstep weekly. Every Christmas, the milkman and the paper-lady, who delivered the early morning edition of the Birmingham News, received one of Mama's delicious, orange-glazed pound cakes. She'd baked a third cake for Christmas dinner at our grandparents house on Forest Avenue. 

And the point of this story is? We had a good mama, and America sure was different back then.

In Hosea's last words to Israel, the Old Testament Prophet called the people to return to God:

O Israel, come back! Return to your God!

You're down but you're not out.

Prepare your confession

and come back to God.

Pray to Him, "Take away our sin,

accept our confession."

(Hosea 14:1-2 The Message)

O United States of America, come back! Return to your God! You're down but you're not out. Prepare your confession and come back to God! Perhaps God will heal our waywardness and give us a fresh start.

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Overcomer

Grandboy's Cross-Country Team

"Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:5)

Friday night, superman and I went to see the new movie: "Overcomer." So good! Two thumbs up!!! This family-friendly film about a teenage runner with asthma is a must see.

In the New Testament book of First John, the Apostle John describes the overcomer life for believers in Jesus Christ. The Moody Bible Commentary says: "The individual born of God overcomes the wicked world. The divinely implanted nature and new life within enable one to gradually and more successfully overcome sin."

Are you born of God by faith in His Son, Jesus, beloved? Then remember, you are an overcomer. Victory belongs to Jesus and those who belong to Him!

(And go see the movie, "Overcomer.")

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Assignment to Friend

Mandy and our Rebecca
sisters-in-love

"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them." 

(Romans 12:9)

For years, I had the wrong mindset—well, heart-set is a better diagnosis. I looked at people that God dropped into our lives to help as "assignments," but God has taught me to count them as true friends—brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank You, Lord Jesus.

Beloved, "love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other...When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always eager to practice hospitality." (Romans 12:10,12)

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Yes You Can

Grandboy and sweet, old Gabe

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13)

On Tuesday, one of our three-year-old grandboys (two of the six boys are three-year-olds) got the wheel of his plastic lawn mower hung in the soccer net. After his mom tried unsuccessfully to  untangled the tire with one hand and hold on to ten-month-old babygrand with the other, she said, "I don't think we can get it out today, Buddy." To which, her three-year-old boy replied, "Uh-huh, Mama! We can do all things through Christ who strengthens you."

So, there you go.

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Ordered Steps

my daddy
1958

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his ways." (Psalm 37:23)

When our favorite son-in-law came to Phillip to ask for our Rebecca's hand in marriage, he brought with him a ten year plan. Years 1-5: grad school. Years 5-7: first baby. 

Toward Stephen and Rebecca's first anniversary, they called and read a little poem: "Our plans have failed; God's plan has prevailed." Grandbaby #1 arrived seven and a half months later, and by their sixth anniversary, we had three grand and wonderful grands.

In the book of Acts, Chapter 16, Paul and Silas went from town to town instructing and encouraging believers. They traveled through Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go. So instead, they went to the seaport of Troas. That night, Paul had a vision: "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" The missionaries left at once, believing that God was calling them to preach the Good News there.

When plans fail, beloved, trust God. Eagerly listen. Let Jesus order your steps according to His good plans and purposes.

"A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

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