My Way

 

Back to front: brother Mark, sister-in-law Debra, and my Phillip

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

At Bible Study on Tuesday, my friend, Robin, said something profound that made us all pause and ponder. She said, "I realized this week that much of my fear is because I'm afraid that God will not do what I want Him to do."

God's antidote for fear, beloved: TRUST in the Lord, your God.

Selah.

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Listen to Him

 

"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior." (Ephesians 5:22-23)

Yesterday, I was offered a contract by Triology Christian Publishing to rebrand and market Fish Fry. As I fretted over the decision and begged God for clear instructions, I "happened" upon a message by a young woman from Africa. She said:

"If you are in a godly marriage, humble yourself, listen to your husband, and do what he says."

So I asked Phillip — for the second time — what he thought I should do. (Yes, I confess. He had already answered my question hours before.)

"Move forward," he replied — again.

This time, I listened, and God's peace flooded my soul.

Begging God for guidance, beloved? Has the Lord sent instructions that you ignored? 

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The Old Button Box

Mama's button box



"Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin."
(Luke 15:9)

This morning, I discovered that a button on my autumn "Give Thanks" pillow was missing. I rejoiced!

"And why in the world would you rejoice over a lost button?" you may ask.

Because a lost button is an opportunity to find a matching one in my sweet mother's old button box and that gives me joy.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells three parables of things lost — a sheep, a coin, and a son — and the joy felt when the lost treasures were found. 

Jesus loves and finds the lost and that gives Him joy. And I tell you, there is great rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God when lost souls are found.

 

 

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Fort Payne Wildcat Prayer

 

Fort Payne Wildcat Lettermen's Club Officers
1974

"Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." (Ephesians 6:18)

I had to dig out my high school annual for this snapshot of the Fort Payne Wildcats Lettermen's Club Officers in 1974. (How did that girl get so old?)

Forty-eight years later, I'm praying the Fort Payne Wildcat prayer for our national and worldwide leaders:

F  - fear of the Lord

P  - protection

W - wisdom

C  - competence

Will you join me, beloved?

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Awesome Wonder

 

"So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the waters teemed and that moved about it..." (Genesis 1:21)

To kiss the summer goodbye, my Phillip and I took a spur of the moment trip to St. George Island. This morning, we watched over 5 pods of dolphins with 3 to 8 or more dolphins in each pod rolling over the surface of the sea and leaping into the air!

Decades ago, Carl Boberg penned:

Oh Lord, my God

When I, in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made . . . 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Centuries ago, the psalmist wrote:

O my soul, bless God!

God, my God, how great You are!

Dressed up in sunshine,

and all heaven stretched out for Your tent.

You built Your palace on the ocean depths,

made a chariot out of clouds and

took off on wind-wings . . .

What a wild and wonderful world, God!

You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side,

made earth overflow with Your

wonderful creations.

Oh, look — the deep, wide sea,

brimming with fish past counting!

(Psalm 104, the Message)

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In His Hands

 

The Potter and His Clay
(sculpture by Ben Glassco, 2005)




"Yet You, LORD, are our Father.
We are the clay, You are the potter;
we are the work of Your hand."
(Isaiah 64:8)

I love this sculpture our Ben created when he was a student at Tusculum University, a private Presbyterian university — Tennessee's first university and the 28th-oldest operating college in the United States. 

When I first saw his work, I asked, "Ben, how did you come up with the idea?"

He said, "From the scripture you sent me, Mama."

(I had sent him Isaiah 64:8)

Did you notice "man" is bowed down in the hand of his Creator? Are you, beloved?

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you." (1 Peter 5:6)

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Come Home

 

Rebecca's friend
"Hidden"

"So there is hope . . . " declares the LORD. "Your children will return to their own land."

Over the summer, our Rebecca made a new friend — a praying mantis named Hidden who lived in their hydrangea bush. In August, when Rebecca pulled back the branches to introduce us to her bug friend, Hidden was frightened and flew away to a tall pine tree across the street.

"Hidden, come home!" I cried and prayed, "Lord Jesus, please help Hidden find her way home." 

Two weeks later, Hidden was back in the hydrangea bush. Thank You, Lord Jesus!

Beloved, there is no prayer too large or too small for our loving, Almighty Heavenly Father. Today, ask.

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Question of the Day

storm over Sanibel Island
2021

"Oh, what a sinful nation they are — loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the LORD . . . and turned their backs on Him." (Isaiah 1:4)

Question of the day:

Am I more disgusted with evil behavior than concerned about the eternal destiny of evildoers?

Selah.

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Back Up

grandboys

"Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3)

The wrap-around porch at the river cabin is a racetrack for the grandboys and their riding toys. When two tried to squeeze through a narrow space at the same time, their wheels jammed. Both kept peddling but neither budged.

I said, "Now that's what you call a traffic jam. What does Jesus tell you to do?"

Four big eyes stared back at me. Then, without a word, the eight-year-old slowly peddled backwards, letting his little brother go first.

At a relational standstill, beloved? Do what Jesus tells you to do. Put another's needs before your own. Relationship is more important than winning!

 

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Trustworthy

Stephen and grandboy
2020

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (Revelation 5:12)

When the grandboy was learning to roller blade a couple of years ago, he clung to a trustworthy hand — his dad's.

Beloved, in this roller coaster world, cling to Jesus — our trustworthy Savior, Lord, Shepherd, and Friend.

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Right Hand

 

grandboy



"Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
(Isaiah 41:10)

A couple of minor injuries to my right hand this week prompted a word study. What does the Bible have to say about the right hand? Plenty!

"Your right hand, LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, LORD, shattered the enemy." (Exodus 15:6)

"I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken." (Psalm 16:8)

"You will make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." (Psalm 16:11)

"Now I know this: The LORD gives victory to His anointed. He answers him from His heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of His right hand." (Psalm 20:6)

"For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'" (Isaiah 41:13)

"Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died —more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us!" (Romans 8:34)

The right hand of God is powerful.

The right hand of God is victorious over our enemies.

God holds us in His majestic, righteous right hand.

God takes us by our right hand and helps us.

Jesus now sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us. 

Today, beloved, take hold of God's right hand stretched out to help you.

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First Day Friend

 

grandboy and Bell

"There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)

The afternoon before school started, I got a call asking to borrow Bell. The grandboy was a little nervous about the first day of first grade and wanted Bell to spend the night and ride with him to school. 

Beloved, you have a friend who sticks closer than a brother, and His name is Jesus.

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Say Ahh

 

grandboy and his fish

"Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)

We took two of our grandboys fishing Sunday evening. The three-year-old was trying to pick up a fish by the lip. When it wouldn't open its mouth, he said, "Say ahh."

In the Gospel of Matthew, one day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw two fishermen, Peter and Andrew, throwing a net into the water. Jesus called to them, "Come, follow Me, and I'll show you how to fish for people!" The brothers left their nets at once and followed Him.

Are you following Jesus, beloved? Are you fishing for people for the Kingdom of God?

Join thousands of fishers of men around the world in a season of 21 Days of Prayer. Online at:

www.churchofthehighlands.com

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Until We Meet Again

 

Margene and me
"All That Jazz"



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

I've grown to love Margene, the owner of All That Jazz, my favorite novelty shop in Apalachicola, Florida. Sadly, the store is closing soon, and I'm wondering if today was the last time I'll see my friend this side of heaven. 

For those in Jesus Christ, the Good News is: separation of believers is always temporary.

"... And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words!" (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)

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