Betty Whitaker Jackson

Tonight there will be fireworks. Today there will be family and friend gatherings, usually with cookouts. Today flags will be unfurled and flown. Today there will be parades and speeches. Today there will be tributes to patriots. Today we celebrate our nation’s independence from the tyranny of British rule. Today revisionists rewrite history once more.

While the Declaration of Independence copies say July 4, 1776, the hard-fought battle began earlier with “the shot heard round the world.” The decisions made…..

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I have just finished rereading a favorite book: Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh after selecting it as a wedding gift for a special friend.

It is refreshment; it is captivating; it is challenging; it is riveting; it is personal.

I am indebted to its idea for my book, Bless You Bouquets: A Memoir.

Both are extended metaphors. Both of us have chosen an object (shells for her; flowers for me) to discuss philosophical or autobiographical topics.

In…..

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Under my husband’s teaching, our small group began a study of Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians in our small group yesterday.

I love the way Paul begins this letter to his church at Thessalonica: “We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know brothers…..

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At the risk of absolutely stirring up a hornet’s nest, here’s a discussion place on the topic of contemporary Christian music, etc. You may post your favorite artists, etc. and refer others to it if you’d like. You may express your opinions as long as you are grateful for the gift of music, its artists, its composers. You may criticize opinions, but not the writer. You must recognize that in all of this, God is to be praised and honored,…..

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I am a recovering Type A personality control person, who is learning after three-score-and-ten+ years to Let Go and Let God! When I turned 60, I began to try to live by this principle: if it doesn’t matter in five years, it doesn’t matter in five minutes.

Well said. Hard to apply.

Now, I know a lot of people live under stressful circumstances: financial, physical, emotional, relational, and any other -al your mind (not mine at six o’clock in the morning)…..

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It’s hard to say, “I’m sorry!”  It’s hard to say, “Please forgive me.”  It’s hard to think that I need to do this, because we rationalize and think, “I’m an O.K. person; I have my faults, but when I rationalize, I’m no worse than the next guy, and actually, I’m “better” than most. I try to be a good person; I think about others; I usually do what’s right; etc.”

That attitude can be applied to our families, our churches,…..

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I attended a choral concert last night, and once again filled my head and my one “hearing” ear with beautiful harmonies, melodies, and the passion that comes from performing with finesse, elegance, grace, and precision.

The prayer at the end of the concert summarized it beautifully: “God, you are a creative God, and you have shared your creativity with us. We thank you for that.”

Indeed we do. Today, I was graced by a friend’s sharing cuttings from her garden……

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Let’s allow this verse from Ephesians sink into our consciousness, our very souls today as we consider the magnitude of God’s power: “I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of His power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:19-20) This is Almighty God, who loved us so much that…..

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We all make plans for days to come: some for vacations, some for the work-week,;some for medical procedures; some for endless to-do lists. Jesus had one too, this very week, some two thousand years ago. Here’s what he said: “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him spit on him, flog him,…..

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This praise song blessed me last Sunday as we shared it at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Palm Bay. Thank you, Craig Kutteroff for introducing it to the congregation. It pretty much tells the story of Easter, and our salvation through Christ’s sacrifice. May it bless your day today as well.

“At The Foot Of The Cross (Ashes To Beauty)” Catherine Scott

At the foot of the cross Where grace and suffering meet You have shown me your love Through…..

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