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| Grandboys and friend "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope." (Lamentations 3:21) When I feel my children's books are useless, this I recall to mind: Jill, feed My sheep. (John 21) Dear Jill, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to My work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58) Beloved, what words of God do you need to recall today? |
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| grandboy ninja warriors "As he neared Damascus on his journey, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground . . . " (Acts 9:3-4) I made a "hit" list for 2021. On it are nine names of young folks who have strayed far away from God. I'm asking the Lord to get a hold of 'em.😇 Got your hit list, beloved? "There is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!" (Luke 15:7) |
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| Tiberian denarius "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:21) In Gary Hamrick's recent message "The Other Side of the Coin," the pastor made a noteworthy point. Although this passage is often used to teach pay your taxes and give the tithe, Pastor Hamrick examined a different facet. Backstory: Pharisees had met together plotting to trap Jesus into saying something for which He could be arrested. They sent some of their disciples, along with supporters of Herod to Him saying, "Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Jesus knew their evil motives. "You hypocrites!" He cried. "Why are you trying to trap Me? Show Me the coin." When they handed Him a Roman coin, Jesus asked, "Whose image is this?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then He said to them, "So give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to Him." Pastor Hamrick noted: The coin which bore Caesar's image belonged to Caesar, and that which bears God's image belongs to God." Genesis 1:27: "God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." You, beloved, bear the image of God. Give your life fully to Him! |
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| from my front door this morning "He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes." (Psalm 147:16) After seeing snow pictures from their Indiana cousins, the Alabama grandboys hit their knees last night, praying for snow. Ten minutes later, God answered. 😊 Thank You, Lord Jesus, for answering little boys' prayers. |
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| Five-year-old grandboy |
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| Rebecca's family 4th of July, 2009 The LORD foils the plans of nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. Blessed in the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth — He who forms the hearts of all, who considered everything they do. No king is saved by the size of His army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May Your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in You!!! (Psalm 33:10-22) Selah. |
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| Sanibel Island "Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8) Riddle: I am fear's enemy, a weapon of mass destruction. I totally annihilate fear, utterly destroy it. Every time. I have the ability to product perfect peace.Who am I? (The answer may be found in Jeremiah 17:7-8, Isaiah 26:3, and Psalm 56:3.) |
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| "The Key" from Secrets of Shiloh by talented artist Donny Finley "See, I have chosen Bezalel. . . I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills to make artistic designs . . . " (Exodus 31:2-4) Last night, Phillip and I finished Faye Gibbon's King Shoes and Clown Pockets. What a masterfully crafted book! This morning, after asking the Lord for help with book writing, I read in Pastor Larry Stockstill's devotional: "The key to attaining creativity is the Holy Spirit . . . Bezalel's ideas did not come from his brain, but from his spirit." Selah. |
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| grandboys on the Gill farm |
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| Grandboy and lamb 2014 |
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| Indiana grands 2015 "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority." (John 7:17) In a devotion this morning, I read "I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land" (Isaiah 58:14) and wanted it to mean that God is about to quickly increase the altitude of my books. So, I asked, "Lord, is this Your voice or my own?" Dr. David Jeremiah wrote: "We'll discover His will as we trust and obey [God] without reservation." It's not for me to know what God will do with these Christian children's books. My job (and your job, beloved) is to will to do God's will and to trust and obey Him without reservation. |
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| 2-year-old grandboy and asparagus "I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!" (Genesis 17:6) For two weeks, I've been on a super-duper, extraordinarily healthy diet — not to lose weight, but to boost my immune system and promote good health. I only eat between 11:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. Here's lunch (super-salad and grilled salmon):  |
"Jill, aren't you being a bit extreme?" you might ask.
Yes, but I'm in good company. Our El Shaddai, Almighty God, is in the business of extreme . . .
In Genesis, God promised Abraham that He would make him extremely fruitful.
Exodus 1:7 tell us the Abraham's descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land.
In 1 Kings 7 we learn that God made Huram extremely skillful and talented in bronze work, and he did the metal work for King Solomon's temple.
In John 3:16, we find that God loved the world so extremely that He gave His only Son, Jesus, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life!
Doesn't that make you extremely happy, beloved? Why not praise God extremely today?
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| my superman Sanibel Island lighthouse "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms . . . " (Deuteronomy 33:27) A few years ago, I had a bad headache and, right before going to bed, accidentally took a full dose of extra-strength Tylenol twice. Ugh! I felt very strange. I scooted beside Phillip and grasped his hand. Just being near him made me feel better. Beloved, scoot near to Jesus. You'll feel so much better! What have I to dread, what have I to fear Leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus, Safe and secure from all alarms. Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus, Leaning on the everlasting arms. 1 1 LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS. Elisha A Hoffman, 1887. |
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| my boy and grandboys wrap-around porch chase "Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life . . . " (Psalm 23:6) We designed the wrap-around porch at the farmhouse with grandkids in mind, but the big "kids" use it, too. In the 23rd Psalm, King David sang of God: "Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life." The Hebrew word for "pursue" or "follow" is radaph, literally meaning to run after, chase, or hunt down. Beloved, the chase is on! The goodness, mercy, and unfailing love of Jesus, the Great Shepherd is following you, pursuing you, running after you, chasing you, and hunting you down all the days of your life! So, fear no evil. God is with you. |
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