Tale of Two Brothers

 

grandboy brothers

"You made all the delicate, inner parts . . . knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous! (Psalm 139:13-14)

Tale of Two Brothers by Ben Glassco . . . 

"So both of my sons got bloody scrapes on Saturday.

First, the 5-year-old and Memaw walked to the boat ramp. He fell and scrapped his ankle. Memaw carried the Tonka truck in one hand and held my boy's hand in the other. He gets a walking stick and they trudge their way back to the cabin, like a wounded warrior returning to base camp.

Next, the 6-year-old fell and scraped his elbow on the driveway. Screamed at the top of his lungs. Crocodile tears streamed down his face. He yelled, "I'M GONNA DIE!!! I'M GONNA DIE!!! DADDY, I'M GONNA DIE. GOOD-BYYYE! I LOVE YOU! GOOD-BYE!!"

~

May God bless you, my son, as you bring your night-and-day boys up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. May He equip you in every good thing to train them and guide them accordingly.

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Good Thing You're A Good Kisser

Superman and me 
1993

"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards." 

(Song of Solomon 2:15)

Superman dropped his keys on the kitchen counter.

I put them up.

Later. "Where are my keys???"

"I put 'em up."

"Good thing you'r a good kisser."

We laughed.

And kissed.

Beloved, "bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13)

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We Laughed We Cried

 

my dear friends
Jane, Eve, and Nancy

"Two people are better than one, for they can help each other . . . But someone who falls alone is in real trouble . . . Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

A week ago, horrific tragedy struck Eve's family. Yesterday, Jane, Eve, Nancy, and I gathered in her backyard. We laughed. We cried. We left refreshed and stronger.

Beloved, people need the Lord. People need each other. Love the Lord with all your heart. Love others as yourself.

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A Man Full of Faith

 

my favorite son-in-law

"Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit . . . " (Acts 6:5)

Happy 40th birthday, Stephen! You are a blessed man because: 

"God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth." (Matthew 5:5)

"God blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied."  (Matthew 5:6)

"God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy."  (Matthew 5:7)

"God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)

"God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

Thank you for loving our Rebecca well. Thank you for bringing your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Thank you for serving the Lord and His little ones. Thank you for being the best son-in-law in the whole wide world. We love you, Stephen!

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Remind Me

my kindergarten class 1961-62
(bottom row, 3rd from left)

Jesus said, "But when the Father sends the Helper as My representative — that is the Holy Spirt — He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." (John 14:26)

I need to often be reminded of the elementary things Jesus said like:

Jill, respect Phillip in all things and build him up!

Jill, the purpose of your books is to feed My sheep.

Jill, make allowances for other's faults. Forgive quickly as I forgave you.

Jill, pray without ceasing.

Jill, don't let your heart be troubled. Believe Me.

Beloved, what do you need to remember today? Ask the Holy Spirit. He'll remind you!

 

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Generations

5-year-old grandboy, Phillip, and our Ben 
breaking the beaver dam

"We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about His power and His mighty wonders." (Psalm 78:4)

At church yesterday, Mark Pettus, the president of Highlands College, gave the excellent message: "Generational Mentality."

Before 1981, life was slow, faith was shared, trust was high, and morality was high. For millennials and generation Z, life has always been frantic, faith at the margins, trust broken, and a morality of devaluing people to defend an idea.

What must older generations do, beloved? Personally receive from God and intentionally pass truth on to younger generations.

Full message available at:

 www.churchofthehighlands.com

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Love Well

 

Our Ben's family and friends

"Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." (1 John 3:18)

While praying for a friend walking through a family tragedy, I cried, "Lord, what can I do?"

"Love her well," Jesus whispered.

Selah (Think about it.)

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Sweet Home Alabama

Bokeelia community, Pine Island, Florida

 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17) 

After a fun-filled week at the beach, we're back on the road to sweet home Alabama. Thank You, Father God, from whom all blessings flow.

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Passing Through

 

"Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth . . . You made [man] lord over the works of Your hands . . . animals in the wild, birds in the sky, and fish of the sea passing through the currents of the seas." (Psalm 8:1,6-8)

I snapped this photo yesterday. Can you tell what it is? Look closely and you'll see gazillions of fish in the shallow, golden waters of the sea — tiny creatures just passing through.

In this life, beloved, you and I are just passing through. "For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come (Hebrews 13:14)." A home with pearly gates, streets of gold, and Jesus forever and ever and ever.

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To the End of the Island

 

St. James City, Florida

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)

On Saturday, we rode bikes to the end of Pine Island and praised the Lord and prayed for others along the way. In good times and hard times, beloved, let's keep our minds on Jesus.

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Wisdom for Today

Pine Island, Florida

 

"Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, 'This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop.'" (Job 38:8,10-11)

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD God Almighty and shun all evil. (Proverbs 3:7)

Selah.

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In the Wild Frontier

"Give thanks to the [the LORD] who leads His people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever." (Psalm 136:16)

We're on the road again. First night: the Lord led us into the "wilderness," the Wild Frontier Campground in Ocala, Florida.

Thank You for Your guidance, Lord, and Your love which endures forever!

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Pots of Clay

 

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)

I am a common pot of clay. 

I hold a treasure of greatest value: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

If this gospel remains hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing.

Therefore, I will not keep silent.

Selah.

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A Good Thing

 a 

Our Ben's beautiful bride
2008

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD." (Proverbs 18:22)

For forty-three years, God's been working on me, molding me into a "good thing" for Phillip Glassco. I'm still on the Potter's wheel but in better form than I used to be.

Yesterday, guest speaker Pastor Craig Groschel gave a practical and hope-filled message on marriage. His three main points:

1. When you think something good about your spouse, say it!

2. When you think of something special to do with your spouse, do it!

3. When you want something different in your spouse, be it!

Full message available at:

www.churchofthehighlands.com

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