Loud and Clear

 

my family
2019

"And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him." (Genesis 6:22)

Some days it's harder to hear God's voice than others. Today, He spoke loud and clear.

First devotion of the morning: "Obedience is better than sacrifice." (1 Samuel 15:22)

Next: "Obedience is the secret to pleasing God."

Third: "On that day, Abraham [did] . . . as God told him." (Genesis 16:23)

Another: "Obedience is the fruit of faith."

Beloved, trust God and obey.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.1

1 TRUST AND OBEY. J. H. Sammis, 1921.

 

Read more...

Unify

5-year-old grandboy

"Now protect them by the power of Your name so that they will be united just as we are." (John 17:11b)

My sweet daughter-in-law is diligently working with her 5-year-old to prepare him for kindergarten next fall. Yesterday . . . 

Gabbi: "What's another word that starts with U besides umbrella?"

Grandboy: U . . . U . . . Unify!

In Chapter 17 of the Gospel of John, Jesus interceded for His disciples and His church. A repeated theme in the High Priestly Prayer is unity:

Verse 11: "Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to You. Holy Father, You have given Me Your name; now protect them by the power of Your name so that they will be united just as we are."

Verses 20-23: "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one — as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You And may they be in us so that the world will believe You sent Me. I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me."

What did Jesus mean by unity?

Romans 12:4-5: "Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so in Christ, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

Therefore, beloved believers, act like a Christ's body. Unify. How? 

Romans 12:2, 9-10) "Don't copy the behavior and customs of the world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think . . . Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other."

Amen?

Read more...

Dropped the Ball

 

Grandkids' Ball Day
2016

"I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11)

I dropped the ball this year on the Family Beach Vacation Bible Memorization Challenge —the kids and grands opportunity to earn souvenir bucks. Our trip is now only a month away, and I forgot to send out most of the weekly verses! So, here's the whole 20-verse kit and caboodle:

Psalm 23 (6 verses)

Psalm 100 (5 verses)

Ephesians 6:10-18 (8 verses)

Romans 10:9 (1 verse)

With a 100-point bonus: Psalm 91 (18 verses)

Beloved, are you hiding God's word in your heart? It's a lamp to guide your feet and a light for your path!

Read more...

Summer Pearls

 

L-R our Rebecca, two grandboys, and my superman
Fort Morgan Beach, 2018

"Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood . . . be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5-6)

Spring Bible studies ended last week. "Summer Pearls" begins today — a gem a week from the book of Revelation.

Pearl #1: Beloved, you are loved and freed from your sins by Christ' shed blood. 

Read more...

Snake and a Skunk

 

5-year-old grandboy

"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?" (Luke 11:11)

Smile for the day:

5-year-old grandboy: "Mama, for your birthday, I'm giving you a snake, and for daddy's birthday, I'm giving him a skunk."

His mother: "Why, buddy?"

5-year-old grandboy: "'Cause you're sending me to school next year!"

Smile, beloved, and have a great Monday with Jesus!

Read more...

Match Made in Heaven

My Phillip and me
1974



"Call to Me and I will answer you." (Jeremiah 33:3)

Friday night, Fort Payne, Alabama, May 7, 1971, 50 years ago today, I had my first date with Phillip Glassco. We went to play putt-putt with Mary and Stanley.

A few weekends prior, after taking care of friends that had had one too many, Phillip (who had vowed to God to never taste alcohol) prayed, "Lord, please show me the girl I'm gonna marry and get me away from these hooligans."

Phillip called, God answered, and I'm so very grateful His answer was me.

 

Read more...

Flash Flood

Ben's house

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." (Isaiah 43:2)

Tuesday, our Ben's family learned the meaning of "flash flood" firsthand. In a flash, you're surrounded by water; a few hours later, all is gone but the big mess and water damage.

In the book of Isaiah, the prophet assures Israel of God's loving presence and protection even in the flash of calamity.

Wading through stormy waters, beloved? Think on these things: God is your life boat. He loves you. He is with you. He will help you. He has a plan forward for you. 

 

Read more...

Son of the Right Hand

Ben's 2nd birthday
May 3, 1985

Moses said this about the tribe of Benjamin: "The people of Benjamin are loved by the LORD and live in safety beside him. He surrounds them continuously and preserves them from every harm." (Deuteronomy 33:12)

Benjamin in Hebrew means "son of the right hand." Today, is our Benjamin's 38th birthday. 

Ben, we are so proud of the man God has grown you to be. May you continue to love the Lord, obey His voice, and hold fast to Him all the days of your life. May you use the amazing gifts God has given you to finish the work He set before you for His glory!

Happy birthday!

I love you,

Mama

Read more...

Free Indeed

 

"Peaches"
Periwinkle Park
Sanibel Island

"Christ has set us free to enjoy our freedom. So remain strong in the faith. Don't let the chains of slavery hold you again." (Galatians 5:1)

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul reiterated that believers have freedom because of their rebirth through the Savior's work of salvation — a free gift of God's grace. Therefore, do not take on again the chains of law and self-works as means of acceptance before God. 

Jesus said, "You will know the truth. And the truth will set you free." (John 8:32). Jesus is the the truth. (John 14:6) Abide in Him, beloved, and enjoy freedom purchased by His blood.

"[God] is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins." (Ephesians 1:7)

Read more...

If I, Then He

 

"If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD am your healer." (Exodus 15:26)

On this path called life . . .  

If I never let loyalty and kindness leave me — write them on my heart, then I will find favor with both God and people. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

If I trust in the LORD with all my heart, do not depend on my own understanding, and seek God's will in all I do, then He will show me which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

If I'm not impressed with my own wisdom, but fear the LORD and turn away from evil, then I will have healing for my body and strength for my bones. (Proverbs 3:6-7)

If I honor the LORD with my wealth and with the best part of everything I produce, then He will fill my barns with grain, and my vats will overflow. (Proverbs 3:9-10)

And, beloved, if you will, too, then He will for you.

Read more...

Every Eye

 

sunset Sanibel Island

"Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see Him — even those who pierced Him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for Him. Yes! Amen!" (Revelation 1:7)

On any given day, every eye of the world sees the light of the sun. One day, every eye of the world will see the Light of the Son coming with the clouds of heaven.

Beloved, may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow . . . May He make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all His holy people. Amen! (1 Thess. 3:12-13)

Read more...

Indescribable Gift

 

"Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words." (2 Corinthians 9:15)

A treasured gift awaited me when we got home from Florida last night. The note read:

Hi Jill,

I ran across this afghan in the cedar chest, and I thought of you. My mom Evie Powers crocheted it so many years ago. Maybe you can use it when you go camping this fall. Enjoy.

God bless,

Marie

My dear friend, Marie, is 93. The handmade afghan is special; but as a gift from a 93-year-old friend, it's is a treasure. And the fact that her mother made it makes it priceless!

In His second letter to the Corinthians, Paul thanked God for a gift too wonderful for words. The gift? The person and work of Christ — God's indescribable gift. Beloved, have you thanked God for Jesus today?

Read more...

Missing Verse

 

Periwinkle Park Camp
Sanibel Island

"He Himself will deliver you from the hunter's net, from the destructive plague." (Psalm 91:3)

When praying Psalm 91 over our family, I always forget a verse — verse three. So today, I'm rehearsing it over and over and over again. Wanna memorize it with me, beloved?

Read more...

God's Glory On the Horizon

Sanibel Island sunset

"God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon . . . That's how God's word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith." (Psalm 19:6 The Message)

And all God's people said, "Amen!"

 

Read more...