Betty Whitaker Jackson

We have spent a year and a half afraid to meet together because of COVID’s curse and political leaders who couldn’t let a crisis go to waste. It is time to gather, to hug, to converse, to share our woes and joys, to worship, to communicate with smiles, raised eyebrows, and embraces.

I so look forward to Wednesdays. It is when our small group gathers. Some of our members have always been at a distance: Dan in Texas, Marion in…..

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My Psalm 507   Ascension and Beyond

Long ago on this day

The disciples were bereft

Their Savior and friend, their hope and their stay

Had ascended to the Father, He apparently left.

For the second time in two months

They had lost sight of Jesus

Buried from the cross, in a grave, behind a huge stone

They thought all was over,  “Did He deceive us?”

Then, miracle of miracles, God resurrected Him

He walked and talked, taught, reassured…..

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Today is Ascension Day, victory for Jesus as He ascends to the throneroom of heaven. From there, He is our advocate to the Father, and from there, He rules. Until His kingdom comes on earth, He is surrounded by the glory he knew before walking among us on dusty roads, a servant king among us, Emmanuel. He paid the price for our sins, which the world still commits, by the way. Just listen to the news or walk down a…..

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My Psalm 166 tells the story of Jesus: Fulfillment of prophecy, miraculous birth, life as servant king, His sacrifice, resurrection, ascension, sending the Comforter, the task of the church, His return, His reign, our hope as we wait.

My Psalm 166

Predicted Messiah/ Son of God, Son of Man/ Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords,/From Paradise came.

A manger Your bed/ Face scratched by the straw/ That same brow a crown/ Of fierce thorns You would wear.

Man of sorrows,…..

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In Honor of Mothers Day   “HANDS”

Most of all, I miss her hands. When I last saw them in this life, they were crossed, idle, on a pale blue coverlet in the hospice house where she finally, after a year-long battle with cancer, needed them no longer.

I remember her fingernails, long for the first time ever, painted with lavender polish she never would have chosen herself, but the hospice nurse had primped her thin hair a bit, dusted her…..

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It seems to me that we can focus on the news of the day: business, immigration, storms, jobs, COVID, civil unrest, or other problems, or we can turn our attention and our affection to loving others, loving God’s creation, and yes, loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind and leaving the problems of this world to His direction.

Tomorrow is Mothers’ Day, a time to honor the moms who nurtured, guided, and prayed for us. They wanted only…..

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We were honored to participate in the Palm Bay Town Hall observance of National Day of Prayer yesterday. One of the prayer supplications was for our church leaders, and it was a privilege to pray for churches where my husband and I have never been, but which are part of our community. After prayer by pastors from our community, not, by the way from our home church, we were given time to pray in small groups where we stood. 1…..

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Today is National Day of Prayer. We pray for our nation, for revival, for justice, for mercy for those who need God’s guidance, which is all of us. Colossians 2:8 says: “Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that comes from human thinking and from the evil powers of the world, and not from Christ.” We have those in our midst who would cancel our culture, change our historical perspective, corrupt our morality, and elevate…..

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When I began writing original Psalms, I sometimes based them on passages from the Biblical book of Psalms. This is My Psalm 152 based on Psalm 9:10 which reads: “Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You.”

From my book, My Psalms Devotional Guide and Beyond Easter: Ascension and Pentecost” My Psalm 152:

O Lord, my Lord

Almighty and Holy and Just,

Creator, Sustainer,

My ever-Present,

Alpha and Omega,

My…..

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On my writing journey, inspired by the book of Psalms in the Bible, this was the first one, written May 8, 2016.   May it bless us today. By no means is it meant to be scriptural; a psalm is a song, and I call them My Psalms. I am now working on the 500 series. One day I hope to publish all of them.

My Psalm 151

O Lord, Eternal Father, Savior of my soul, Guiding Spirit,

I come to…..

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