"Mark Spence"

believe it or not, our Rebecca 
"the old woman" 
high school costume day, 1999

"Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, 'The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in Him!'" (Psalm 92:14-15)

Getting old is fascinating! Because our furnace died over the weekend, I called the heating and air company. The service manager instructed me to call dispatch and request "Mark Spence" technician. "Ask for Mark Spence technician?" I asked. He laughed, "No, ma'am, ask for the most experienced technician."

Honey, you better hold on to Jesus. Ears will dull, eyes will dim, but the spirit abiding in the LORD remains as young as a spring chicken.

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." (2 Cor. 4:16)

our "real" Rebecca
senior portrait 2000

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Practice What You Preach

"me"
(posing for "Mrs. Willowkins" illustration in Mr. Greenleaf's Unforgettable Summer)

Jesus said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me." (John 14:1 NLT)



Yesterday, after writing a Bible lesson on God's peace amidst life storms, I received some unsettling news. (My family and I, by the way, are fine; someone I love dearly, however, isn't.) I confess that I didn't find God's peace until this morning when I asked Jesus to increase my faith.

The opposite of fear and worry? Faith in Jesus Christ - the ONLY One who is able to comfort the brokenhearted, set captives free, give beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and replace despair with praise (Isa. 61:1-3).

Beloved, practice what you preach. Be doers of the Word and not hearers only. If you look carefully into the perfect Law of God that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it (James 1:22-25).

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Running with Endurance

my grandboy: "Wheels"

"...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith..." (Heb. 12:1b-2a NASB)

Our grandboy may be the smallest little fellow on his soccer team, but he's the fastest! His coach nicknamed him "Wheels".

I've heard Dr. James Dobson say on more than one occasion, "Life isn't a sprint; it's a marathon." How do you finish a marathon? By endurance and perseverance. How do we finish life's race? By keeping our eyes on Jesus, the One who gives perseverance and encouragement (Romans 15:5); who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Jesus who endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb. 12:2b-3).

Feeling a bit weary, beloved? Set your eyes on Coach Jesus and run by faith and endurance.

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Questions and Answers

Spring Mill State Park
(photo by my Rebecca)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take." (Prov. 3:5-6 NLT)

Because we're nearing the end of our fall Bible study: Bible Basics for Young Women, last week I journaled, "Lord, what's my spring semester assignment? I don't need to figure this out; I need to hear Your voice." 

The following morning, I read Hebrews 6:1: "So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding."

Pretty clear answer! Thank You, Lord Jesus. 

Next semester, we're studying the books of Daniel and Revelation. "And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding" (Heb. 6:3).

Have questions, beloved? Don't try to figure things out. Seek Jesus and His will, and He'll show you what to do!

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Precious

Our precious babygrand
all dressed up as "the firehouse pup"
"Ruff, ruff!"

"Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." (1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT)

For two weeks, I've been waiting eagerly for an opportunity to post this endearing picture of babygrand all dressed up as precious pup, the firehouse dog.

In a letter to Christ Jesus believers scattered across Asia, the Apostle Peter advised Christian wives to make a fashion statement - not with outward apparel, but with inner, holy beauty of gentle, gracious hearts.

Wanna look precious in the sight of God, ladies? Put on gorgeous, godly garments: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control.

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The Principle of First

My Jesus, my Phillip, and me
September 10, 1977

"[Jesus] is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have FIRST place in everything." (Col. 1:18)

"When God is first, everything comes into order. When God is not first, nothing comes into order." ~ Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Dallas/Fort Worth

Beloved, is your life out of order? "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need" [for a well-ordered life]. (Matt. 6:33)

LIFE, MONEY, HOPE - Part 4 "The Principle of First" by Robert Morris at: www.churchofthehighlands.com 

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Don't Walk Away

My Phillip and grands
Cascades Park

"For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened - those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come - and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing Him to the cross once again and holding Him up to public shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6 NLT)

This week, I was asked to pray for a young man to believe in Jesus again. Is the Hebrews passage above hopelessly teaching that someone who walks away from Jesus can't come back? Theological scholars' interpretations disagree, but this I know for certain, "What is impossible with man is possible with God" (Luke 18:27). Jesus said, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me, for My Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand (John 10:28-29). If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost...won't he leave the ninety-nine others...and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it" (Luke 15:4)?

Beloved, don't ever walk away from the One who died for you, and earnestly pray for people far away from Jesus.

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Fully Engage

My Phillip and me
"Fully Engaged"
Wedding Day 1977



"...I focus my attention on what You are saying..."
(Psalm 119:69 The Message)

I often ask friends and family, "What's Jesus teaching you these days?" Well, these days, He's telling me, "Jill, fully engage with whoever you're with. Listen attentively, show interest, and fully focus on that person - beginning with Me."

Oh, prone to wander, Lord I feel it! My mind drifts from Your throne of grace and meanders back to earth too many times. Just this morning, I stopped in the middle of our visit to make a doctor's appointment. Help, please!

Precious ones, with God's help, let's fully engage with the one we're with.

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Study

my high school graduation day
Class of '74

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV)

When I was 8 or 9, I started reading the Bible every day. When I was 32 and in a family crisis, I started studying the Bible like I was preparing for final exams.

The Apostle Paul told young Timothy: "There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another - showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correction our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." (2 Tim. 3:16-17 The Message)

Beloved, study the Bible; it's good for the soul. Learn God's truth that will enable you to pass life tests and His final exam.

From the storybook Hoot Owl Hollow:

"Mornin' honey. Here," Nonie said and handed Andi a brown paper bag and a small Bible with a worn, leather cover. "This buttermilk biscuit and smoked sausage'll stick to them skinny ribs of yorn, and a word or two from the Good Book will feed a hungry soul."

"Thanks, Miss Nonie, but I've tried readin' the Bible a couple of times, and I don't really understand it."

"Don't worry 'bout understanding' ever'thang. Just keep readin'; and before ya know it, the word'll go right past yer mind and into yer spirit."

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Intense

My daddy, 1944



"The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful."
(James 5:16b HCSB)

While looking for a family photo that captures "intense", I found in my parent's World War II scrapbook this picture along with the caption: "Stuck in the snow 30 miles from nowhere." Since I came along in the 50s, it's safe to say that Daddy powered through until their 1931 Model "A" Ford was unstuck and on the road again.

God through James, the half brother of Jesus, taught that much can be accomplished through earnest, fervent prayers of righteous people - righteous not of ourselves, but from God on the basis of faith in Christ (Phil 3:9).

Beloved, are your prayers accomplishing much? Turn up your intensity from lukewarm to burning and effectively power through to omnipotent God!

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INSIDE Out

Clockwise: Inside Out's: Sadness, Anger, Joy, Fear, and Disgust
(Kids and grands at Friday night's Church Trunk or Treat)

"Don't be DEJECTED and SAD, for the JOY of the LORD is your strength!" (Nehemiah 8:10b)

Superman and I traveled to the midwest last week for five tons-of-fun days with kids and grands - a picture-perfect trip (with a few imperfect exceptions: scattered rain showers, occasional brisk, cold winds, and a couple of small headaches). Joys, nonetheless, far outweighed minor discomforts. 

Like 11-year-old Riley in the computer-animated adventure film Inside Out, our core emotions normally drive thoughts and actions, and outside circumstances normally control inside feelings. God, however, says we don't have to live "normal". JOY and PEACE can rule daily regardless of surrounding conditions, because the JOY of never-ending relationship with Jesus Christ outshines every earthly trial - minor or major. 

Beloved, which emoticon is controlling your mental headquarters? Fix your mind on Jesus, and put JOY in charge!

Jesus said, "Remain in Me and My words...Remain in My love...so that you will be filled with My JOY." (John 15:5-11)

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Ambition

Brown County, Indiana

"For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind." (James 3:16)

As a preschooler, our Rebecca's ambition? - to sell apples with a few bananas on the side. Today? No, she doesn't run a fruit stand, but she did earn a bachelor degree at Liberty University in health promotions; and as a stay-at-home mom of three, she slices apples every day. Smile.

In Romans 15:20, the apostle Paul said, "My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard...."

Beloved, what are your ambitions? Are your goals for Jesus or yourself?

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Class 101: How to Encourage God

My kids and grands
family hayride

"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brothers [and sisters], have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people." (Philemon 1:7 NIV)

I recently asked Jesus what encourages Him. I believe He clearly answered in Philemon 1:7 - God is encouraged when we love and encourage others.

Today, beloved, encourage Lord Jesus! Love and encourage the people in your pathway whether or not they merit it.

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Seasons

grandkids, a friend, and autumn leaves



"He changes the times and seasons..." (Daniel 2:21 NIV)

In A Movable Feast, Ernest Hemingway wrote: "You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen."

Fall isn't sad to me. It's nostalgic - a sentimental, wistful affection for happy childhood autumn days atop Lookout Mountain in Fort Payne, Alabama. That's why not one of my storybooks closes before harvest gold and pumpkin orange paint over summertime's green canvas.

My Phillip says that man measures time in days and years; God's calendar, however, is marked in moments and seasons. Beloved, if we look carefully, we'll find His goodness stamped in everyone.

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