Betty Whitaker Jackson

Let’s start with the prayer I’d like to call my own at the end of each day.

From a reading in “Devotions for Lent,” a wonderful booklet we’re using at Covenant Church in Palm Bay, these words I’d like us to sincerely pray at the end of today, and every day: “Forgive me, most gracious Lord and Father, if this day I have done or said anything to increase the pain of the world. Pardon the unkind word, the impatient…..

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Here’s a snowy day poem I’ll include in my newest book, Whispering Woods: The Seasons.

Snowy Interlude  by Betty Jackson

Hesitant dawn sunbeams

Sneak filtered rays through low clouds

Finally devoid of tons of snow

Dropped earthward in tiny siftings

One hexangular flake at a time,

Since yesterday’s onslaught.

Nor’easter, blizzard—

Whatever they named it,

Held all in bondage

Predicted, delivered

Burying man’s edifices

And evidence of life

As usually lived,

Three feet deep.

Pristine layers lay…..

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Blessings unnumbered. Yesterday was the 35th birthday of my firstborn, Paul Loren Jackson, who has become a young man who dedicates himself to his Lord, his family, his students, his colleagues, his profession, his many friends, and to blessing others. Last night his orchestra hosted a group of 60 students from Lafayette High School in St. Louis, who played a concert with his kids at Astronaut High School. All this on his birthday!

Blessing #2. The salvation and love of…..

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Uncanny the way this works. I was awake much of the very early morning, like 2:30 on, thinking about things I need to get done since Wednesdays are pretty much consumed by childcare. Here’s what Sarah Young says today in Jesus Calling: “Rest in my presence, allowing Me to take charge of this day. Do not bolt into the day like a racehorse suddenly released. Instead, walk purposefully with Me, letting Me direct your course one step at a time……

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In my soon to be released book, From Embers to Whispering Woods, I have built an imaginary Christian resort-retreat center. For those of you suffering with the cold, I thought I’d show you one of the cozy rooms, one of my favorites, the Willow Room. I love watching renovation shows on TV where the ugly becomes beautiful. It’s the transformation which is so interesting to me. The cleaning out of the junk and the replacement of the new. That’s what…..

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I’d rather not think that we can celebrate love only once a year, at the behest of Hallmark and other commercial entities who would harp otherwise. Ev and I have been guilty of standing before a card counter and reading some of the offerings, and saying, “If I were buying one, it would be this one!” Often it would be a silly one, or one committing such purple prose nonsense that it makes us laugh. We don’t buy valentine’s day…..

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From my favorite hymn: “Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise Him, for He is they health and salvation!”

Finally feeling better after my bouts of bronchitis, stomach bug, intestinal bug, another cold, and major back wrench–this morning I’m able to say, “Thank You, Lord, perhaps I’m healing and can get on with life!”

I am quite sure there is noting quite so humbling as being so sick that one cannot lift head…..

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I am currently reading Anne Graham Lotz’s book Wounded by God’s People and am challenged by it. Do we propel our own little versions of Christianity, our own opinions, our own agendas instead of trusting God’s sovereignty and His words to guide us?

There is a whole group out there of ex-church Christians, those who have been hurt by church policies, undue criticism, self-centered attitudes, and stubborn prideful traditionalism that offends seekers who are checking out Christianity in our churches…..

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Does a date make a difference? This one did. I married Everett V. Jackson on December 28, 1968.

That seems like, and is, a lifetime from 2014. Years of adjustment, years of joint decisions, years of laughs, experiences, days and nights together. Where did it all go?

I don’t remember not being married. 46 years can do that. I do remember the longing times before marriage. Will I ever marry? Who will it be? Will he love me for being…..

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