Betty Whitaker Jackson

The gospel of John says is so well: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)  If you look up the word Glory in a concordance, and then the offshoots such as glorious, glorified, etc., you will find hundreds of references in the Bible, cover to cover. Indeed, the Bible, cover to cover, tells…..

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Although this psalm was written well before the COVID year we’ve endured, people today seem to be overwhelmed by that circumstance more than any other. What we need to remember is that God is sovereign, He is in control, He listens to our prayers, and He is the infinite problem solver and waymaker. He is, scripture tells us, our very present help in times of trouble.

MY PSALM 333   OVERWHELMED

Lord God, Almighty to Save, We come into Your Presence…..

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Amazing story of God’s grace. My Psalm 333 You Love Even Me

MY PSALM 332   YOU LOVE EVEN ME

Almighty Lord, Creator, Sustainer, You govern the Universe, things seen and unseen You count, name each star, and connect every sinew, Spin planets, make atoms, yet call me by name, The rocks, hills, the mountains, the rivers, the flowers Bring praise, adoration, and worship You, Lord Each bird song is part of the harmony of spheres I praise Your Great Name,…..

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Yesterday was the Fifth Sunday of Lent. We have nine more days of Lent, if you’re counting. Today’s Psalm poem is one of my favorites, titled Hope. Who doesn’t need to reflect on Hope, especially after the COVID year seemed it’s opposite, a year of concern about our future.

There will always be something clouding hope. Remember the ancient story of Pandora’s box? After every evil and negative thing escaped from her box, what, alone, was left in her keeping?…..

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Happy Spring! Sorry for the few days’ hiatus. During this week I have submitted contest entries, bought a new car, enjoyed time with my sister and brother-in-love, received COVID shot number one, spent time with our family during teachers’ week off, entertained eleven forSt. Patrick’s Day, and outlined a new book idea. Here is a Spring poem I submitted to Scribblers Anthology for publication if they choose to use it. It uses mythology and traditional symbols for spring:

SPRING’S SERENADE

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No one will “earn” his or her way to heaven by “being good,” “doing good things,” “serving others,” or “being famous as a philanthropist, leader, or paragon of virtue.” Only by belief in Jesus as personal Savior is God’s way. Scripture supports this, and no amount of prosperity gospel preaching or thoughts of “cheap grace,” saying it once and then living as if this mortal earth’s pleasures are fine, is supported in the Bible. That being said, why do people…..

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Today marks the Ides of March, made famous by the soothsayer in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” drama. It actually was really a term for the lunar time between the 13th and 15th of March when the moon was full. It was seen as a time of rejoicing until Shakespeare’s “Beware the Ides of March” quote.

Today’s Psalm reminds us of those who “discipled” or trained us up in the faith, and reminds us that we are to constantly seek discipling to…..

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So many reasons to rejoice today. For all you math people out there, it is Pi Day 3.14. For the Jacksons, we rejoice that we got our first COVID vaccine shot yesterday and soon will be out of self-induced quarantine after a long year of precautions. Third, we dined at the awesome Cheesecake Factory after a year and a half absence. Yum. Fourth, it is Jakob Klemm’s wedding day to his lovely Jill and we’ll watch live-stream. Fifth, I met…..

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A year ago, hundreds of people were dying from COVID-19 every day, often alone, often on ventilators. We remember and mourn their loss. Perhaps we think most about our own mortality when a tragedy like a pandemic comes, or when we attend a funeral or memorial service. Psalm 139 teaches that the day of our death is determined before we are born, and that the gift of life has a expiration date. Planned obsolescence so to speak. It is time…..

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During the last year, we have faced trials from a pandemic. It has changed our world and our feelings of fragility, vulnerability, and fear. I know, and hope you do too, who guides our world, who knows the future, and who is our hope and salvation. We are never promised we will have a happy life in this world. We will face trials. How we choose to respond is key to our growth in the faith. It seems to me…..

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