Immediately

grandboy-Tonka race

The centurion replied, "For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. For I tell one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." (Matthew 8:9)

God's instructions and God's timing are both critical. A story worth repeating:

Years ago on a bitterly cold morning, our doorbell rang. I opened the door to an elderly gentleman who said, "How do, ma'am. Do you need your yard brushed today?"

"Uh, no thank you," I replied and closed the door.

Wait a minute, I thought. Anyone looking for work in five-degree weather must need help.

When I opened the door again, the man had vanished. I ran up and down Robin Hood Lane but never found him. He was gone and so was the opportunity to help another.

Beloved, when God says, 'Go,' let us go. When He says, 'Come,' let us come. When God says to His servant, 'Do this,' let us do it immediately!

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Unstuck

our very fast eleven-year-old grandboy

"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:14)

My new book, The Adventures of the Lookout Mountain Gang: The Secret Chest, has been stuck at the publishers since February. Yesterday, I asked the Lord what to do and believe He answered: "Press on! Push forward. Make headway. Forge ahead. Advance boldly. Gain ground."

"Yes, Sir. How?"

"I will guide you one step at a time. First step: call the publisher."

Are you stuck, beloved? Seek the Lord and do everything He tells you to do—one step at a time.

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Serve-One-Another Week

my superman grinding a stump for our son

"God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them to serve one another." (1 Peter 4:10)

Saturday, July 11th is our annual Serve Day, but because this summer's physical distancing makes things work a little differently, our church is sponsoring Serve Week.

Here are just a few serve-safely ideas:

1. Write a note of encouragement to someone.
2. Text someone a Bible verse.
3. Pay for the person's meal behind you in a drive through.
4. Call someone living alone.
5. Mow your neighbor's yard.
6. Do something special for a family member in your own home.
7. Pray for your leaders.
8. Treat someone to a "ding-dong ditch" (leaving goodies on their doorstep)

What creative ideas to serve another can you think up and do, beloved?

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Enough Already

tired grandboy

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Isaiah 40:30)

After three days of moving, our tired little grandboy put his head down at the dinner table as if to say, " Enough already!"

After months of trouble, trouble, trouble, our weary hearts cry, "Enough already!"

"...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

Weary, beloved? Put your hope in the Lord Jesus, the One who is able to renew your strength!

(Checkout my list of favorite youth fictions on the home sidebar.)

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Put His Armor On

sweet Allie
(One of my precious girls from small group)

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:10)

Today, beloved, put on God's full armor of truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer and praise Him all day long!

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Make Every Effort

my grandgirl

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." (2 Peter 1:3)

Because God has given us everything we need for a godly life, we may participate in His divine nature and escape the corruption of this evil world. "For this very reason [beloved], make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:5-8)

And if we make the effort? O, what a wonderful world it would. 

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Today

back porch daylily

"This is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another." (1 John 3:23)

Not for yesterday. Not for tomorrow. A daylily lives for today.

Today, beloved, believe on the name of Jesus Christ and love one another.

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Advance Through Adversity

grands

"Now, therefore arise, go forth, and speak..." (2 Samuel 19:7)

In days of adversity, beloved, fear and unbelief will bog you down, but faith and trust push you forward.

"The LORD [Jesus] is my strength to go up. He is my power to climb the Hill of Difficulty, as Christian did in Pilgrim's Progress, and not be afraid." ~My Utmost for His Highest~

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Absent One From Another

A Coosa River ride with Aunt Rebecca

"May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from another." (Genesis 31:49)

Alas, our beloved Rebecca and three grands loaded up the minivan and headed north this morning. Sure is quiet around here.

Father God, please watch between us while we are absent one from another and bring us back together soon. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Beloved, savor every moment with loved ones.

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All Day Long

kids and grands
fun day at the Coosa River Farm

"Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me You're paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long." (Psalm 25:4-5)

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Chips

grandboys
Coosa River Farm

"This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24)

Granddaddy's favorite verse is Psalm 118:24. On a fill-in-the-blank Happy Father's Day card, the four-year-old grandboy filled in this sentence as follows:

Granddaddy's favorite things to say is: CHIPS! I will rejoice and be glad in it!

SMILE and have a great day with Jesus and family, beloved!

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An Oreo and a Nickel

grandboys and Bell

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)

When their cousin lost his tennis shoes, I sent the grandboys on a "treasure hunt," and the finders got a prize: an Oreo and a nickel each. They were happy as clams in high water.

Beloved, what does it take to make you happy? "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

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Happy Father's Day

my superman and the grands

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:2)

Happy Father's Day, gentlemen! 

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He equip you in every good thing as a dad and grandad. May God's face shine upon you as you bring up your children and your children's children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord!

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The Miracles of Two Chairs

my back porch

"...with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

The miracles of two chairs:

Remember Kelsey, the young mother of two in ICU on a ventilator with heart failure after Covid-19?

This morning, her grandmother reported: "Kelsey sat in a chair for 4 hours yesterday. She will probably go to rehab next week. Her heart has gotten so strong that it is competing with the LVAD, so in a few months they will take out the LVAD which is really God's miracle. Praise God!"

And then there's 87-year-old Nell, who contracted Covid-19 and was also in the hospital on a ventilator...

This morning, her daughter reported: "Mother is progressing [at rehab]. She's even sitting in a chair now."

Thank You, thank You, thank You, Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. With You all things truly are possible!

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