Living in Wholehearted Devotion



Tipton Place homestead was initially settled by Revolutionary War Veteran William “Fighting Billy” Tipton in the 1820s. He was able to procure the land under the Tennessee Land Grant program.

The two-story cabin that remains on the property was initially constructed by Fighting Billy’s relative and Civil War Veteran Colonel Hamp Tipton. He built the large cabin in the early 1870s.

In 1878, their house was rented to James McCaulley, who was trying to settle in the cove. McCaulley was a welcome newcomer to Cades Cove as he was a blacksmith. In time, McCaulley built his own home along with top quality blacksmith and carpentry shops. McCaulley was a trusted blacksmith, carpenter and coffin maker, working in Cades Cove for a quarter of a century.

I've heard many times from friends that they would love to live in a place like that. Personally, I think the lack of modern day conveniences would soon drag you back into reality. Those were tough times and people had to be strong physically, sharp mentally, stable emotionally, and committed spiritually.

Yes, "religion" played a big role in the lives of people in the Cades Cove mountain community and elsewhere. Maybe the dependence on God and others to survive made them more faithful to the Lord and one another. I think the conveniences we enjoy today may very well be a hindrance to the relationship that God desires with us. He still wants us to seek Him, and in that we will find strength for today's challenges, although quite different than in the 1800's.

Read the words of King David and understand that these truths still applies today.

1 Chronicles 28:9
And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek Him, he will be found by you.

Psalm 14:2
The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

David and Solomon were very wealthy and could very easily have grown comfortable in their lifestyle of extravagance, but wholehearted devotion and a willing mind is what father impressed on his son. Seek God and you'll find Him for He is eagerly waiting for you!

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