Betty Whitaker Jackson

Share Your Plenty in Twenty-Twenty

It seems to me that one way we can improve out world is to look outward, get out of the way, stop the entitlement game we too often play, and think creatively about how we can improve our world.

We read of increasing suspicion, political rivalry, the “me-first” attitudes, the competitiveness, the “get it for cheap even though it cripples businesses,” the negativity which dominates cable news, and the downright rudeness and self-centered attitudes we…..

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This story is highly autobiographical, and I credit the Holy Spirit’s guidance in my writing. While the details are somewhat fictional, (I did write a piece in the style of Canterbury Tales, but did not use animals), the reliance on God’s direction is the point of telling readers this story in “Led by the Spirit,” for my intention is writing is to tell God’s story of the Spirit’s guiding in my work. Godincidences are indeed real. No fiction there.

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Guess we’ve dodged another “hurricane” type threat today. Two weeks ago, it was Dorian which skirted our shore; today it’s an unnamed tropical depression which was to bathe us in tons of rain and swirl it around with wind. The joys of Florida life.

The last two evenings we’ve had sweet GK times. While our kids, Paul and Mary, their parents, and our daughter Nancy have been rehearsing for this weekend’s concerts with the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, we’ve put…..

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A year ago, September 12, I began my journey with a serious eye injury to my retina. Since that time I have had three operations and a steroid shot and more eyedrops than I think might fill my yard lily pond. Thankfully, I can see well enough now to read size 14 font and am busy writing my twentieth book. I have so missed writing my blog. I’m back.

I would love to say I have learned anything but patience…..

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Today a hurricane approaches the southern short, I have fifteen people on my prayer list with serious medical issues, and I am living with severely blurry vision and see a retina specialist this morning for diagnosis and I hope treatment. I need to remember God is in charge and He can use all these to His glory.

When my heart is burdened, O Lord,

You remind me through Your Spirit

That You are in control,

That I need not fear,

…..

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Our congregation at Covenant Church sang this wonderful praise song last Sunday, and I pray its words today, so that our community and our world can be blessed again. The words and music are by Brenton Brown. The title is “A Thousand Generations.” May these words be in our minds and hearts as we live through this day, and may it stand as the prayer for this generation as well: “You have been faithful to a thousand generations, Slow to…..

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With a friend, I am embarking on a new personal ministry inspired by a book by Roy Godwin and Dave Roberts called The Grace Outpouring, Becoming a People of Blessing. It is basically a prayer ministry for community, with which people bless each other with this specific blessing prayer and then watch the Holy Spirit take command over the situation. It asks of me that I bless those with whom I come in contact by asking, “May I pray a…..

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Sometimes I need to go to the old hymns to find comfort. This is just such a day. God’s arm is not too short or His power less than what I need for comfort when tears of sorrow come for a stillbirth, or when the ten people with cancer I am currently praying for are suffering, or when I grow weary of the hostility and anger displayed in current national discourse. This hymn, penned in the 1700’s by Nicolaus Zinzendorf…..

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This day, my soul is sore. Yesterday was not a good day

for three families I know well, and my heart is heavy.

This is one of the original Psalms I wrote for my newest book

“Life-Changing Water—Chaos to Glory: A Metaphor Study.”

“My Psalm 229 Depression” is an outpouring of my

prayer for deliverance this day, for our God is good

all the time, and there is purpose to grief and sadness.

Praying that the Lord will bring comfort…..

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