Master of Diplomacy

 

Verna B. Watson in the early 1940s
My mother
April 21, 1920 - June 20, 1993

"A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)

My mother was the master of diplomacy. She knew what to say and when to say it to defuse tension or persuade an opponent. She was also the most selfless person I've ever known, always thinking of others before herself.

O Lord, thank You for my wise, kind, and selfless mother. Please train all us mothers (and fathers) in diplomacy and selflessness. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

(Happy 102nd birthday, Mama!)

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Teach a Man to Fish

 

grandboy with the catch of the day

"This was our command to you: If anyone does not want to work, he should not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.

Give a hand up not a hand out.

O Lord, teach me to give generously in ways that help people grow.

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Till and Sow

Mrs. Glassco
1988ish

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow." (1 Corinthians 3:6)

My in-laws were master gardeners. Every year, Mr. and Mrs. Glassco tilled the soil, sowed the seeds, and reaped an abundant harvest.

This morning, I believe the Lord whispered, "Jill, till and sow. Till hearts in prayer and sow the seeds of My Word."

Beloved, till and sow!

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On This Good Friday

 

Howard's Chapel
Mentone, Alabama



And being found in the appearance of man,
He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient to death —
even death on a cross!


Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him a name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus ever knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father!

(Philippians 2:8-11)

Hallelujah to Christ our Savior!

Hallelujah to the King of Kings!

Hallelujah to the Lord of lords!

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Music to My Ears

 

"Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!" (Psalm 81:1)

Yesterday, our grandboys gave a piano concert. It was "music" to my ears even though neither one has had a lick of piano lessons. After the seven-year-old's performance, I asked, "What was the name of that song?"

Without missing a beat he answered, "Old McDonald is Dead."

Beloved, sing praises to the Lord today! The praise of God's children is music to His ears, reguardless of whether you can carry a tune in a bucket or not.

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The Bridge

 

"For there is one God, and one Mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)

As I posted a few weeks ago, Phillip built a beautiful bridge across a stream at our farm for my birthday.

There lies a deep canyon named Sin and Death between the God of the universe and every man, woman, boy, and girl, and the only Bridge across it is Jesus Christ.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

"The wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

Beloved, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36)

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:11-13)

Beloved, have you entrusted your life to the Bridge?

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Treasure Hunt

 

grandboys at the farm

"...if you search for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:4-5)

My ladies Bible study group is currently digging into the Gospel of John. Although the story makes sense to first-time readers, the treasure book is designed to be studied and studied and studied again, exploring the themes, discovering the hyperlinks to Old and New Testament teachings, and uncovering the multidimensional treasures of its meaning.

Wanna go treasure hunting, beloved? The hunt begins in twenty-four minutes! 

(Contact me if you'd like to join the study of John via Zoom, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM CDT. Ladies only.)

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Come and See

grandboys



"Come and see," said Philip. (John 1:46)

After church yesterday, we headed to the farm for an afternoon of fishing, football, and family fun. I marked the woods with "butterflies" leading to a surprise at the end of the trail, then coaxed the boys, "Come and see!"

In the Gospel of John, Jesus called Philip of Bethsaida to follow Him. Philip then found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph!"

"Nazareth!" Nathanael replied. "Can anything good come from there?"

"Come and see!" Philip urged.

This week, church families around the world will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King. Beloved, who will you invite to "come and see?"

 

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The Best Easter Pageant Ever

 

grandboy 
(little Roman soldier on far right)

"Then they took Jesus out of the city to nail Him to a cross." (Mark 15:20)

The kindergarteners at Briarwood Christian School gave an outstanding performance this morning in Three Trees, an Easter pageant based on Angela Hunt's The Tale of Three Trees. 

The program was so cute and so sweet but also very moving. Tears stung my eyes when the hammer echoed through the auditorium as Jesus was nailed to the cross. My eyes filled again when the children sang "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." In this Memaw's opinion, it was the best Easter pageant ever, and 5 and 6 year olds were the enthusiastic, shining stars.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross and rising again that we might have forgiveness and eternal life! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for schools that have not silenced their students from speaking Your name and telling Your story!

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National Library Week

 

our sweet Bell and our Little Free Library

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

This week is National Library Week.  Do you know the title of the best-selling book of all time with an estimated 5 billion (yes, with a "b") copies sold and distributed?

The best-selling book of all time is a brilliant masterpiece and the Author is still alive today!  The title? The Holy Bible. The Author? The Lord God Almighty.

Author Sally Lloyd-Jones in The Jesus Storybook Bible wrote: "The Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. the Bible is most of all a Story . . . It's love story about a brave Prince who leaves His palace, His throne — everything — to rescue the one He loves . . . It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bile whispers His name."

JESUS.

King David wrote: "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth." (Psalm 119:103)

The prophet Isaiah wrote: "The grass withers and the flowers fade away, but the word of God endures forever!" (Isaiah 40:8)

Beloved, if reading the greatest book ever written, God's Holy Bile, is part of your daily life, I applaud you and may it remain so for all your days under the sun. If God's word sits neglected, I encourage you with all my heart to pick up your Bible, dust it off, and read the powerful, life-giving words of God. If you don't have a Bible, please contact me. I'd be honored to send you a Bible! 

Now, go get your Bible and have a great day with Jesus!

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Back to School

 

"...Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say." (Ephesians 4:29)

Last Friday, I spoke to students at Clear Creek Christian School in Indiana (my first book event since March 2020 when covid hit).

Thank You, Lord, for reopening doors to tell children Your truth and the Good News of Jesus Christ!

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50 Years Ago This Week

 

my superman and me



"We love because God first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

Fifty years ago this week, my Phillip and I were celebrating our 17th and 16th birthdays. Mama made the caramel cake.

Happy birthday, Superman! I fell in love with you then. I love you even more today!

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Help My Unbelief

 

Phillip and grandboys
pickleball game

The boy's father cried out, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)

In a pickleball game Monday evening, our opponent collapsed on the court and cried, "My Achilles tendon just blew!"

While his friend ran to get the truck, we knelt and asked Jesus to heal him. Shortly afterward, the man said, "It's feeling better!" With a little assistance, he walked to the truck.

What just happened? Did God miraculously heal a torn tendon? I do not know, but this I do know: I did not expect Him to. My faith was small.

~

In the Gospel of Mark, a man from the crowd asked Jesus to heal his son, "Have mercy on us and help us, if you can."

Jesus answered, "What do you mean, if I can? Anything is possible if a person believes."

The father cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!"

Jesus then healed the boy.

~

So, is the point of this post: If you believe strongly enough, God will do anything you ask? 

NO!

The point of this post is: When we pray, we should expect our God who is able to act and whether He answers YES, NO, or WAIT, we must strongly trust that He is able, He is right, He is good, He is loving, and He is all-wise. All the time.

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Yard Boy

 

6-year-old grandboy and Dan

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

Our 6-year-old grandboy is a hard worker. He's had his own garden since three. Recently, when his dad asked if he wanted to play soccer, he said, "I'd like to, Daddy, but I've got work to do." Yesterday, with close supervision, he mowed our yard.

Proverbs 12:24 says, "Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor."

Beloved, may we train the next generation to work hard, as working for the Lord, and may God bless the work of their hands!

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