Right Place, Right Time

my superman and Bell
Lower Loop Trail, Fall Creek Falls State Park


"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way." (Psalm 37:23)

"I almost didn't come here," said the teary-eyed lady, sitting alone at a diner in rural Tennessee. "But I think God brought me here. Thank you for the book. I needed this."

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for once again ordering our steps to the right place at the right time.

Beloved, stay alert. Pay attention. The Lord God of heaven and earth orders your steps daily into opportunities to love another.

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Walkin' in High Cotton

grandboys

"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren...yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

In the antebellum (pre-Civil War) days of the South, the term "high cotton" meant crops were good, prices were good, life was good and prosperous.

In the Old Testament, we find the prophet, Habakkuk, in a quandary: How can a good God allow things to get so bad? God's answer? The righteous must live by faith; trust Me. The book ends with Habakkuk's song of praise to his God who works all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Beloved, are you struggling to reconcile a good God with hard times? Walk by faith in the God of your eternal salvation! 

"I have heard all about You, LORD. I am filled with awe by Your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as You did in years gone by...I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign LORD is my strength!" (Habakkuk 3:2,18,19)

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Just a Widdle Bit

grandboy

"Obey Me, and I will be your God and you will be My people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you." (Jeremiah 7:23)

Memaw to two-year-old grandboy standing by the bathtub: "Don't turn on the water."

As soon as Memaw's out of sight, I hear water running and a little voice saying, "Sorry, Memaw, just a widdle bit."

Oh, so hard to obey as a two-year-old. Oh, so hard to obey as a sixty-two-year-old. Help us Lord!

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57

photo by our Rebecca

"Jesus told them, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

I like to listen to sermons on Youtube while ironing. This week, Craig Groeschel's message: "One Minute After You Die, Part 2; The Horrors of Hell" left me gripped with fear - not for myself, but for 57 people on my prayer list that may not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Are you heaven-bound by the saving blood of Jesus? Then work while there's time, beloved, telling the hell-bound the Good News  of Christ. 

"What you believe about eternity will determine how you live today." ~ Craig Groeschel

"At the Movies" evangelistic series begins this Sunday at Church of the Highlands. Find a campus near you at: churchofthehighlands.com

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Grossly Unremarkable

Remarkable front-yard maple

"They all met regularly and in remarkable harmony on the Temple porch named after Solomon." (Acts 5:12)

Most of us long to be remarkable in some way. I'd love to be labeled a remarkable Christian or wife or mom or memaw or friend or writer. But on the other hand, in a recent abdominal scan, I was tickled pink that the doctor labeled my insides: grossly unremarkable. Thank You, Jesus!

In the New Testament book of Acts, some pretty remarkable God-signs and wonders and miracles were happening through the work of Jesus' apostles. The sick and those possessed by evil spirits were all healed. Equally remarkable, remarkable harmony took place among the Christ followers. 

Long to be remarkable, beloved? As much as depends on you, live in remarkable harmony with other believers.

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Harvest Time

grandboy

"The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to sent more workers into His fields!" (Luke 10:2)

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Good Works

Our Dan and his little man

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

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Brotherly Love

grandboys

"Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another...do this more and more." (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)

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Full Quiver

Our Dan and his boys

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver..." (Psalm 127:4-5)


Mom and baby were released from the hospital on Saturday, and the family is staying with Memaw and Granddaddy for a couple of weeks. Our quiver is full (and so are the washer and dryer.) As my mother used to say, "I know why God gave babies to young folks."

Blessings, grace, and peace to you, beloved.

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Special Delivery

babygrand
just born today

"Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done...There is none to compare with You. If I would declare of them, they are more than could be numbered." (Psalm 40:5)

Babygrand number seven (sixth grandboy) arrived today. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for our special delivery. 

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Humble, Gentle, and Patient

grandboy and lamb
2013ish

"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love." (Ephesians 4:2)

I've been dealing with a challenging situation this week. In the middle of the night, a merry-go-round of frustration and what-should-I-do whirled around my mind. When I prayed, the Holy Spirit reminded me to pray for the target of my frustration, and first thing this morning, I read the "be humble, gentle, and patient" verse that Paul wrote to the Ephesians. By 10:45 a.m., the situation was resolved. Thank You, Lord Jesus, the omniscient, all-wise, and powerful God.

Frustrated, beloved? Choose humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for others' faults and pray for them.

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Mom and Homemade Apple Pie

"Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good!" (Genesis 1:31)




Last night, this mama baked a mouth-watering, homemade apple pie. My kitchen smelled scrupdiddlyumptious. Moms and homemade apple pies are two things most folks consider very good and really important. 

And when God made you, beloved, He said,  "Very good and really important."

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Hip Hip Hooray

grandnephew

"For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the work of Your hands." (Psalm 92:4)

Championship game.

Bottom of the last inning.

Down 6-5.

Grandnephew steps to the plate.

Runners on 1st and 2nd.

Boom!

Two runners cross home plate.

Nephew rounds third base...

Game ends 7 - 6.

Our God is an awesome God! 

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The Ordinary Road

three grandboys, Bell the dog, and Memaw (me)

"Don't despise the day of small things...." 
(Zechariah 4:10)

L.B. Cowman's prayer:

"My Father God, help me to expect Thee on the ordinary road. I do not ask for sensational happenings. Commune with me through ordinary work and duty. Be my Companion when I take the common journey. Let the humble life be transfigured by Thy presence."

And Lord Jesus, thank You all the little blessings along the ordinary road!

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