You show that you are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
2 Corinthians 3:3

As a Navy wife for 30 years, I anxiously looked for the mailman every day. I waited for a letter from Roy. It was the highlight of my day to receive one. So precious it was to be able to read his words over and over again.
It was a gift of immediacy.
As I read, he was present to me.
There was joy and sometimes tears.
I began to understand his job and responsibilities.
I sensed his perspective on life.
I yearned for his presence.
I wanted to be an encouragement to him.
I missed him because I loved him.
Letters were a tangible means of communicating and I learned to treasure letters of love from  my husband.
I could hold them in my hands.

In those days, there were no cells phones, e-mail or skype.
One had to purpose to stay connected– to keep the flame of love alive. Months would pass before we would be reunited. In war or peace, God was training us to look for HIM and then live for HIM.
It was a cherished time as I look back now.
Our God built faithfulness and trust into our relationship and our love grew for each other.
This unfolded because His Love letter was available to me in the Bible.
I discovered that He is faithful.
I yearned to know more about Him.
I was drawn to prayer.
Finally I began to see how my life should look through the lens of His love.
Joy came.
Devotion was birthed.
I found my way to home every day to The Love of God.
Scripture was a love letter to me and to Roy.
We could read it, pray, it, meditate it, study it and live it.
The sustaining power of His love Letter sustained.
The encompassing reach of His Love Letter reached.
The unending assurance of His love letter assured.

As I internalized His love  daily by hiding it within my heart, a  concern for others began to flow.
Serving is simply giving away what has been given to you.
How profound is the impact of His Love!
One day, without realizing it, His love came forth to another.
If you are reading this devotional and wondering if God loves you– He Does.
If you need a place to start your journey with Him– Read His Word.
If you can believe HE loves you and will receive HIM… Just invite Him.
How do I know?
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus came for you and me.
His love is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Our sin is the foreboding darkness that blocks His love.
The CROSS is the symbol of His complete love for us.
A Perfect Sacrifice was exchanged for our pardon.
The gift is forgiveness and a new beginning.
Open your heart to His love Letter.
Tell Him all about your life.
Become His forever.
YOU can.
Then YOU will be His love Letter to someone else.
Yeah God!!

Billie

“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel…”? Luke 1:34
This young Jewish girl knew she was a virgin. She must have been in a state of utter amazement when the prononcement came that she was to have a child.

“ he Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high will overshadow you so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God…” Luke 1:35

Mary was chosen for this Divine appointment because she was pure, devoted, faith filled and made ready by God Almighty.

Even though it seemed an impossibility– she received and believed.

” For with God nothing is impossible.” Luke 1:37

WHAT A TRUTH FOR US TO PONDER AS WE ENTER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

What are your impossibilities?

Is there a roadblock, a mountain– a “no way through“?

Our God loves the impossible because when HE does it –you and I will never be able to take credit for it! We are living in a time where the extreme is the normal and the normal doesn’t seem to exist.

BUT OUR GOD Is still WITH US.( Acts 17:27)
We are not alone.

HE knows ALL things because HE IS IN ALL THINGS!

On our own–We run out of time, love, money, patience and eventually hope.

IN HIM the very impossibility becomes a bridge of faith to the impossible!

Mary answered the overwhelming challenge with these words– ” I am the Lord’s servant.” Luke1:38a
Are you?

If you are, then– the IMPOSSIBLITIES of your life are pregnant with supernatural POSSIBILITY!

Mary acknowledged the SOVEREIGNTY of God when she said” May it be to me as you have said.” Mark 1:38b

Mary birthed Jesus, the Savior of the world.

From that moment forward– impossibilities became possible!

Why?

Because as HE grew into manhood and went to a Cross, shedding His blood for the sin of all mankind ( yours and mine)– we were given the eternal gift of belonging to God– FOREVER– identity, resource, a family!

Hallelujah what a Savior!
Born in a  lowly manager, HE was.
Everything surrounding his birth seemed impossible.

What is surrounding your life at this moment?

Surrender your burden to the burden bearer.
HE has enough of whatever you need.

He is the gift.

Your heart could be the manager for His spiritual life in you.

Jesus says, ” Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

Lay down your pain, anxiety, fear, isolation–your past and open your heart to Jesus.

If you are a believer bogged down in circumstance– give it over to Him. Reclaim your inheritance as a servant. He loves to ” make all things new.” Look to Him –the author and finisher of your faith. HE IS ABLE.

GET BACK IN FOCUS!
If you have never been assured that you are his child– pray with me:
” Jesus, I come to YOU. Yes, I ‘ve messed up my life but I long to know YOU. I need to belong to YOU. I want YOU as my Savior, my God, my Refuge. Forgive me. Cleanse me from all my sin for I do believe YOU went to a CROSS long ago and shed your blood for me– for my sin. Thank YOU. From this moment forward I will choose to believe that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE— because I now KNOW I belong to YOU as your child. I want to be YOUR SERVANT. I now believe and receive. Hear my prayer for I do pray it in YOUR NAME alone.”

Let us vow to remember what His birth brought to this world.

Christmas begins in the heart.

Merry Christmas to all.

HE REIGNS!

God Bless each of you,

Billie

Christmas  2019

“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun…

 A time to plant and a time to uproot…

 A time to weep and a time to laugh…

 A time to embrace and a time to refrain…

A time to keep and and a time to throw away…. ” Ecclesiastes 1:1,2b,4,5,6b

As I approach Autumn a  reflective stirring begins within my soul.

It was a change I feared  in my young Navy wife years  for usually my husband went on deployments  aboard aircraft carriers in the Fall… so I felt  loss.  There was a void  to be filled. Anxiety and loneliness would settle upon me like the  falling leaves of a tree shedding her excess.

My heart felt stripped of joy, exposed, abandoned.

Many military families back home live with these  feelings.

But I was not alone.

I was in a season of change.

My Heavenly Father was present  and ready to take me through but I had to reach out for His Love, His Comfort, His Presence.

I found comfort in His Word.

” Yet You are near , O Lord. and all Your commands are true.” Psalm119:151

I found confidence in prayer.

” Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself. he will answer when I call.” Psalm 4:3

I found a way to live with expectancy and hope.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isiah 40:31

Really? Yes, really.

Asking God to guide your  steps  each day in every decision is establishing  a rooted faith that will grow and flourish like a mighty oak  tree as the seasons come.

Now that I am a grandmother I look at the Autumn with a deep satisfaction in the Sufficiency of a God who is able  to sustain because HE remains.

How?

Because HE has proven His faithfulness day by day, night by night, moment to moment to me.

” The Lord  is faithful to all his promises.”Psalm 145:13

And now in the falling Autumn leaves I see God’s beauty in the weathering shades of  crushed crimson, muted gold, burnt umber and vintage yellow.

They are in transformation…

The tree remains rooted though denuded.

And so do we.

The momentary trail of leaves draws us to follow where change has brought us.

In war or peace, God is with us.

In planting or  uprooting, God has purpose.

In weeping or laughing, God reveals His love.

In embracing or refraining ,God steadies our faith.

In keeping or throwing away, God sculpts our character.

Seasons of faith must have pruning, nurturing and then blossoming.

Where will His Trail of Autumn Leaves lead you this year?

Will it be a move, a financial set back, a rite of passage with a child, an illness  of a parent, a job loss?

Will  it be a wedding, a graduation, the birth of a child,  a  bright creativity you discover?

Will  you decide to see God’s beauty in the midst of less or more?

You can.

Pray for the troops. Send them care packages. Be thankful that  you can sleep in cushioned beds  at night and awaken to enjoy this Autumn because  they are on watch in distant lands.  Adopt one and his or her family.Make a difference for a man or woman serving in the Armed Forces this Autumn.

If you do you will visit Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, Korea, Germany– all around the world!

God will bless your life  as you bless others and  a Trail of loving concern will be visible to those who follow.

Someone is always watching and waiting .

” He makes everything beautiful in His time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” Ecclesiastes 1:11a

As we act in faith , God will intervene, heal , strengthen, mend, rescue, and  provide.

God Bless our troops!

God Bless  America!

God Bless you for responding!

 

WEB SITES FOR TROOPS:

http://:troopssupport.com — This will direct you to several places.

www.hickoryfarms.co/military (baskets for military under $30– no shipping costs)  special foods

www.foxsox.com — a site to buy socks for troops which they need. Winter is coming.

PLEASE MAKE THE EFFORT! :0)

 

The unfolding of Your Word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple…

 Righteous are YOU, O Lord…

 Your promises have been thoroughly tested and Your servant loves them… YOU ARE NEAR.

Psalm 119: 130, 137a, 140, 151a

 

Flowers unfold in sunlight.

Birds sing their hearts out  in early  morning light.

Star shine emerges in  moonlight.

Clouds are ribbons framing our days.

Winds roam about rustling the trees of the earth.

Rains and waters replenish the soil.

The heavens declare God’s  Glory… But in one dark night long ago…. there was an agony so profound that  CREATION must have groaned helplessly until dawn.

It was a night of shadows and shattered dreams and the earth quaked with fear.

The Jesus of scripture was crucified on a CROSS for the sins of the world, all people, all generations, all races … ALL.

A borrowed tomb, a broken people were hopeless.

The disciples ran.

Three days passed.

Did flowers bloom?

Did birds sing?

Did anyone care?

Beloved women came to the Tomb in early light  to bring spices to anoint Jesus’ Body.

The mammoth stone had been rolled away. Surprised  by a  holy light as they entered the sepulchre, a luminous angel on watch said; He is not here. He is risen… Go quickly and tell His disciples He is risen from the dead and behold He goes before you into Galilee. There you shall see Him.  Matthew 28:6-8

With great amazement and  joy, they ran to tell the disciples this incredible news.  Along the way they encountered  Jesus. With awe they touched His feet and worshiped Him before they continued the journey to Galilee.( v9-10)

DARKNESS MET UNFOLDING LIGHT!

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD CAME FORTH STREAMING FROM  A BORROWED TOMB .

THE WORLD CHANGED.

CREATION  CLAPPED THEIR HANDS IN RENEWAL.

MAN COULD BE DELIVERED FROM THE DARKNESS OF SIN.

The Resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity.

Even Josephus, a Jewish historian wrote convincingly about the evidence he investigated supporting this miracle.

Those who follow Christ learn to live in His Light.

For with you is the fountain of light; In your light we see light. Psalm 36:9

We have relationship.

We have the Word of God.

We can ask for His guidance.

Blessed are those who acclaim you; who have learned to walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. Psalm 89:15

The Righteous Light of Christ leads the simple to understanding.

We are simple and need understanding.

Conquering death, HE became the UNFOLDING LIGHT OF EASTER.

As we embrace this LIGHT, we discover that HIS PROMISES are thoroughly tested and we grow to love them.

We hold on them.

We proclaim them.

We live them out.

We create through them.

We rest in them.

We die in them.

Light dispels darkness.

Truth uncovers deception.

A cleansed heart knows light.

Sin fears discovery.

THE CROSS BRINGS PARDON, FORGIVENESS…  HEALING LIGHT THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD!

Have you experienced the UNFOLDING LIGHT of EASTER?

It is incredibly life giving, glorious, gracious and grace filled.

It is a a Finished work.

What then should we do?

Open your heart to Christ.

Ask Him to come and be YOUR LORD.

Confess all the ugliness you know.

Take your time.

His Light will make you brand new.

If you do, welcome to the family of God.

A Blessed Easter  will be yours.

HE IS NEAR…

Acts 17:28

Billie

 

 

 

” The Lord will be a SHELTER for HIS people and the STRENGTH of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16b

 

Faith NOT Fear…

COME  FORTH NEW YEAR!

Grace NOT Pride…

IN  HIM ABIDE!

Able NOT Frail…

HIS NAME WE HAIL!

Courage NOT Anxiety…

HE IS GOD ALMIGHTY!

Belief   NOT Fantasy…

HIS LIFE — REALITY!

HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE?

Pray fervently each day.

HIS  WORD will chart our way.

Love one another.

Look out for your brother.

COME FORTH NEW YEAR!

WE WILL NOT FEAR.

OUR GOD WHO REIGNS IS VERY NEAR.

Our hearts embrace the SHELTER of Faith.

For Israel STRENGTH…For America GRACE.

Darkness will flee.

His Light will break through.

HIS Love for us all is constant and true.

A NEW YEAR, A NEW GRACE, 2019

” The Lord will be a SHELTER for His people and the STRENGTH of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16b

New Year’s Blessings,

Billie

 

January has come and gone.

February is not long.

A year records our time,

As bells of memory chime.

Are we older, bolder, blessed?

Did we leave behind a mess?

Is the answer yes, Yes, YES?

It is…our hearts confess… but God is with us… YES, once more.

Starting over is not a chore for One whose promises are true.

 Behold a new thing I’ll do.

I’ll make a way for you…

In snow and ice, in rain and sleet, my love will hover as you sleep.

In desert places hope will rise.

And springtime joy will find blue skies.

Storms also will appear… but remember He is near.

Starting over is the way… for faith to bloom in us each day.

Embrace this moment.

The past is past.

The future awaits.

His Love will last.

He watches all with plans galore.

Breathe in His Love and ask for more.

As winter leaves, spring will  call ” Our God Reigns over all.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“….From my mother’s womb you have been my God…All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations…. future generations will be told about the Lord.  They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn for HE has done it”.  Psalm 22: 10b,27,28,30,31

Holy Father;

We ponder  the promises of YOUR WORD.

YOU know our beginnings.

YOU know our doubts and fears.

YOU know the outcome of every day.

Generations who have lived before us found their way to  true faith by Grace.

They searched.

YOU waited.

They received.

YOU gave.

They found.

YOU embraced.

The journey to the CROSS is the way through life’s mountains and valleys.

A pilgrim’s faith is born there.

It is the place where we first meet grace, the Divine equipping to live for YOU.

Freely given, freely received– it is our gift.

Our lives have book ends.

It is life in between… ah, that’s the rub.

Sin seeks to swallow us.

Salvation saves us from destruction.

Seekers need resuscitating.

Being made clean is the work YOU bring to us through confession.

Being filled up with hope is the the work of the Holy Spirit.

Being made ready to serve with abandoned love is the work of a surrendered heart.

Eating at YOUR TABLE replenishes the soul  for YOUR WORD never returns void.

How then shall we live?

We must find our way to YOU every day by Grace.

We take our place in the long line of  sojourners of Christ Jesus who found HIM everywhere in All things and in All places.

How do we know this?

They have left behind a record of His sufficiency and Grace.

John Bunyan found it in a prison.

Amy Carmichael  found it  in ministry on the shores of India.

Derick Bingham found in the pages of English literature.

Have you found it?

Where will  God send you?

What will you leave behind?

When will you grasp the calling  He has ordained for you?

All the ends of the earth will remember… and turn..

The families of nations will bow down.

We rest under His dominion….

Under His Sovereign rule  there is intimacy and strength for the next step.

Our faith journey matters.

Our world watches what  we value.

We must  live His life out with action born of devotion.

We must  serve Him with courage, justice, faith and honor.

We must proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn.

Therefore… we must care about the unborn, the weakest for they are the future of the long line of grace.

Purpose to take your place in this line.

Ask God to order your way.

HE will.

HE ‘s faitfhul.

HE loves you.

HE knows you.

Do you know HIM?

Fellow pilgrim,  join me.

Blessings, Billie

I will walk at liberty for I  seek Thy  Precepts. Psalm 119:45 (NKJV)

Independence  Day July 4 is a day we celebrate for many reasons.

Traditionally it is a day of fireworks,picnics, family gatherings, leisure, parades.

For our work force, it’s a pause, some   “down time” from rigorous schedules.

For smaller children, swimming pools and water hoses beckon.

For teens and college students, it is a sleep in day  then perhaps off to the lake or beach .

BUT… Long ago, the pilgrims  bravely came to America and struggled to establish a new way of life.

They wanted a land in which they could  settle, raise families, work and worship freely.

Hardship,  harsh weather, crops that failed, illness and death stalked them.

BUT… they persevered.

Wars came and they learned the the cost of freedom through sacrifice and loss.

Immigrants from all over the world yearned to come here and they were welcomed.

THEREFORE… We reflect upon our heritage and thank God for His Divine Hand upon the founding of America.

We remember that our Armed Forces across the world  stand watch day by day ready to defend FREEDOM.

BECAUSE OF… their efforts we  walk at liberty …

BUT… there is more .

The bible presents  the WAY of LIBERTY which is discovered  in following after God … For I seek Thy precepts.

THEREFORE… we ponder and ask ourselves the question: ” Have I, LORD?”

If the answer is a resounding YES,  then we are walking at liberty  regardless of the calamities that surround us.

BECAUSE… In All Things Our God Reigns.

Liberty comes from HIM.

Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set  you free. John 8:32

If the answer is an anxious NO, then find your way home, fellow traveler.

Jesus came to rescue all of us from homelessness.

July 4th  is the heralding of  liberty bought for us by patriots laying down their lives through generations.

July 4th is a day to  draw us to God in thanksgiving   for our religious liberty.

July 4th  is the Anniversary of America .

We can walk at liberty for we seek Thy Precepts.

ENJOY THE GOD WHO GIVES YOU LIFE BY LOVING HIS PRESENCE AND LIVING IN HIS WORD.

PURPOSE TO DO YOUR PART TO KEEP AMERICA THE HOME OF THE BRAVE AND THE LAND OF THE FREE.

GOD is calling us HOME.

 

HOLY FATHER;

MOTHERS BIRTH US.
MOTHERS KNIT OUR CHILDHOOD MEMORIES INTO THEIR HEARTS.
MOTHERS FRAME OUR LIVES WITH EXPECTANCY.
THIS IS THE WAY OF LOVE.

” LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.” JOHN 15:12

YOUR LOVE IS THE SUREST POSSESSION I HAVE.
WHEN I MEET THOSE WHO ARE BROKEN BY LIFE, MY HEART YEARNS FOR THEM TO KNOW YOUR LOVE.
YOU CHOSE TO SEND JESUS TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH YOU LOVE US.
HE CAME OUT OF LOVE.
HE STILL DOES.

AS WE CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF WOMEN ON THIS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, SPEAK YOUR LOVE TO EVERY WOMAN WHO READS THIS PRAYER.
YOU KNOW ALL THE MOMENTS OF HER LIFE.
YOU KNOW HER PARENTING.
YOU KNOW HER STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.
YOU KNOW HER CHOICES.

MOTHERING IS A PROCESS IN WHICH WE ALL PARTICIPATE WHETHER WE BIRTH CHILDREN AND RAISE
THEM OR MENTOR OTHERS WHOM WE ENCOUNTER.
SET BACKS SET US BACK AND IN CRISIS WE MOTHER ONE ANOTHER.
GODLY WOMEN TURN TO YOUR WORD AND ON THEIR KNEES FIND THE STRENGTH TO KEEP WATCH AND GIVE .
EVEN THOUGH DISAPPOINTMENTS AND DOUBTS ATTEMPT TO DERAIL US… TRUE MOTHER LOVE IS ” STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN GRACE.” 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58

THIS IS THE FAMILY OF GOD.

WE PRAY TODAY THAT AS WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER THE SISTERHOOD OF FAITH WILL GROW WITH COMPASSION AND CONFIDENCE.

THE BIBLE IS FULL OF STORIES OF WOMEN WHO FOUND THEIR WAY HOME TO YOU THROUGH DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, WAS A TEEN CHOSEN TO TRUST GOD WITH IMPOSSIBILITY.
ELIZABETH, MOTHER OF JOHN, WAS OLD AND BEYOND CHILD BEARING, BUT FILLED WITH FAITH.
HANNAH, MOTHER OF SAMUEL, BATTLED BARRENNESS, BUT BELIEVED GOD FOR A MIRACLE.
ANNA,SINGLE, THEN MARRIED, CHILDLESS, THEN WIDOWED, WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN WHO LIVED IN THE TEMPLE AS AN INTERCESSOR AND ONE DAY IN A LONG AWAITED MOMENT OF GLORY SHE ENCOUNTERED THE KING OF KINGS IN THE ARMS OF HIS EARTHLY PARENTS.
LYDIA WAS A MERCHANT DEALING IN PURPLE GOODS WHO FOUND HER WAY TO A PRAYER MEETING WHICH CHANGED HER LIFE.
DEBORAH WAS A JUDGE, WARRIOR, COUNSELOR KNOWN FOR DECISION MAKING AND WISDOM.
ESTHER WAS A QUEEN WHO STOOD IN COURAGE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THESE WERE WOMEN WHO FOLLOWED AFTER YOU.
YOU KNEW THEM AND YOU KNOW US.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY IN OUR SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE WE BEGAN TO YEARN TO BELONG TO YOUR FOREVER FAMILY.

TODAY WE PAUSE TO CELEBRATE AND THANK YOU FOR MOTHERS–AND OTHERS– WHO HAVE BROUGHT PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL LIFE TO US.
BLESS THEM TODAY WITH HOPE.
SEEKING, PLEADING, REAPING OR LEADING WE LIFT EACH ONE TO YOU IN THANKSGIVING.
JESUS CAME ” THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY.” JOHN 10:10

MOTHERING MATTERS.
IT ALWAYS WILL.

IN JESUS’ NAME WE BOW DOWN, REMEMBER AND HONOR THESE BELOVED WOMEN OF WORTH.

BILLIE

MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, FRIEND, INTERCESSOR

” My times are in Your Hands” Psalm 31:15

Time for work…
Time for play…
Time for God?

“Summertime and the living is easy…”
Is it?
Or is it a conscious juggling of activities , a frenzied striving for all who fear it will slip away.
It’s time to take time–on purpose

Activity or offering,
Lord,which will it be?
More time to do or more time to be…
My life needs Love knocking at its front door.
I need YOUR beauty, YOUR strength — I NEED MORE!
Unclutter my heart
Create a new space for YOUR life in me to flourish with grace.

Sitting in the shade of God’s Love takes time.

” Trust in Him at all times.” Psalm 62:8

When you take time, trust grows, faith blooms, hope is renewed.
Do you need it?
I do.

Be blessed,

Billie

He is not here. He is Risen. Matthew 28:6

The crowd  that gathered before the CROSS of CHRIST  was a microcosm of  true humanity.

Believers were trembling.

Scoffers were insulting.

Bystanders were gawking.

Soldiers were gambling.

There was revelry, shouting, weeping and  skepticism.

AND His mother was there…    Near the CROSS of Jesus stood his mother. John 19:25

The apostle John was with her … only John.

Where were the disciples?

Were they in hiding?

Where was their allegiance to the ONE they followed?

They should have been there.

CHRIST WAS BORN TO DIE.

HE DIED TO LIVE AGAIN –eternally!

The scene played out personally with anguish, suffering , isolation and finality.

HE UTTERED THESE WORDS,  “It is finished.” Romans 3:26

DARKNESS FELL.

THE HEAVENS SHOOK.

THE EARTH  QUAKED.

Standing near by was Joseph of Arimethea.

He provided the tomb in which the body of Jesus would be placed.

Imagine the significance of this provision.

He had it.

He gave it.

He is remembered  forever for it.

And  now once more we remember the mother of Christ.   Mary’s heart  had experienced  the  marvel of his  conception and birth , the memories of his childhood and now the manifested grace given at his death.

She was on watch.

Early in the morning  women came with spices to anoint the body of Christ for it  it was customary to do so.

How were they chosen?

Did they want to go?

Were they anxious?

They were women on watch.

WHAT A  MORNING THIS WAS TO BE!

BORN TO DIE FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD, HE WAS.

RESURRECTED TO LIVE SO THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD  MIGHT FIND LIFE ETERNALLY, HE WAS.

The stone was rolled away. The grave clothes were intact..

An angel spoke these words,  “ He is not here. He is Risen.”

When the soldiers guarding the tomb awoke and saw what had happened they ran away with fear for their lives.

THE STONE WAS A MIGHTY BOULDER!

The women ran with joy to share the good news with  the disciples.

From Death to Resurrection, women were on watch.

And so we are today… over families and nations because of the Sacrifice of the CROSS and the power of the  Resurrection, we can say, “HE IS RISEN”!!!!

The Christ of scripture can live in your life.

Seek Him.

Find Him.

Keep vigil.

BE ON WATCH!

A Blessed Easter to you,

Billie

 

 

 

” The Lord made a decree and a law for them and there he tested them.  ‘If you listen carefully  to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians for I am the Lord who heals you.'” Exodus 15:26

The children of Israel  had experienced GREAT Victory in Chapter 15 of Exodus.

What was it?

THE RED SEA had parted.. The Israelites began to sing with Moses praises to the God who delivers -” The Lord Will reign forever and ever”… ” Your right hand ,O Lord shattered the enemy…  Who is like YOU– Majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”…Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and the rider he has hurled into the sea.. Exodus 15: 6b,18, 21

For 21 verses they gave honor and worship to the  God who does Reign in all things.  There was dancing with tambourines and a recounting of what God did when he saved them from their enemies.

They were remembering their God…

THIS was a MIGHTY VICTORY– dramatic, conclusive, supernatural.

Mighty Victory calls for Encompassing Praise… BUT  following spiritual triumph  ALWAYS…. is VULNERABILITY.

The enemy of the soul searched for a way to turn enCOURAGEment into disCOURAGEment.

As you can see COURAGE is a part  of both words.

When they begin to look at Monday morning life in all its uneven challenges, their God focus changed.

Traveling  from the Red Sea  encounter– Moses led them through the Desert of Shur  3 days without water.  When they came to Marah( which means Bitter),  the water was bitter, undrinkable..

Grumbling dissatifaction claimed their hearts once again and they complained to Moses, ” What are we to drink?”

The “Intervention of the God of the Impossible” was forgotten in the moment of expedient desire.

Why did they not stop and pray for  water?

Why did they not think about God’s recent manifestation of power?

Why did they depend on Moses alone?

No wondered they wondered 40 years…. and yet  God always provided…in spite of their adolescent fickle  faith.

Moses  did know what  to do and he did it– He “cried out to the  Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood.  He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.”v.25

Do we?

Be SURE you will find yourself in Shur after great  break through.

Why?

Because you cannot camp out there. The air is too rich.

Basking in any victory too long stokes ego and self- adulation.

BEWARE!

God had directed Moses to take them to the desert and into Marah. He knew the water would be bitter and they would have to turn their focus back to their MAKER for provision.

He knew Moses would come to Him with the need and HE ANSWERED MOSES!

How many times are we guilty of complaining to  every one else when the God of the Universe is waiting and watching to see if we will REMEMBER HIM.

In the desert of Shur when they arrived at Marah,  if they had  gathered in prayer with their petition accompanied by thanksgiving  and gratitude praising the God who delivers–  who has never failed them– perhaps their 40 year sojourn could have been shortened  …for the character of ” Life with God “requires worship on every day in any situation.– forever!   In  fact the scripture tells us he was ” testing them.”

He still does for we too forget.

How His heart must  yearn for his children today to seek Him.

Most of the of the time it is through scripture that we  hear His voice speaking to us–guiding us down the road..

Does our  daily dependency rest upon Him?

Does He still enter calamity and deliver?

Is He the  Consummate  Provider?

HE was for Moses.

He will be for you and me.

The obedience of one Godly man changed the day…continued to do so day after day.

It still does.

Look what happened:

If they had sat down in the desert and comped there,discontented and and disappointed in God– they would NEVER have experienced the  next miracle– the plenty God had planned  ahead for them down the road to ELIM where there were  12 springs and 70 palm trees.

Moses kept them moving through the desert.

Moses obeyed God and the water became sweet.

Moses’ prayer reached heaven.

God delivered… again.

We must live in a relationship to God steeped with expectancy  found through His Word and in His presence daily.

When we do– we will know His provision, grace and goodness.  Then our hearts will live with a conscious ongoing praise unto the ONE who hears and provides. Psalm 4:3

This chapter begins with  praise , descends into a pit and arrives at the promises of God with the benefit of an oasis of MORE ahead to be enjoyed.

Discontent could have kept them in Shur but Moses moved them on to Elim.

The Red Sea, Shur, Marah and Elim are places within our journey and God is present in all of them.

What  will we do after the next victory in our lives?

How will we live when we become anxious or fearful?

Can we make it to the destination of ABUNDANCE known as ” MORE WITH GOD?”

DisCOURAGEment and enCOURAGEment  are real.

Both require courage : courage to be and courage to move on.

As the old hymn reminds us, “Trust and obey for there ‘s no other way to be happy Jesus than to trust and obey.”

Move on down the road  to Elim where Gods’ blessing for obedience awaits.

Along the journey with you,

Billie

“Now this is eternal life,that they may KNOW YOU, the only True God and Jesus Christ whom YOU have sent… ” John 17:3

Holy Father;

As another year continues , we seek YOUR PLANS and bow down giving YOU praise and thanksgiving for the past.
YOU were there.
Change came.
YOU were in it.
Disappointments knocked.
YOU carried us through.
Anxiety came to stifle peace.
YOU PREVAILED.
New challenges presented fresh insights.
We opened the door and found YOU ahead of us.

There were gifts of HOPE, JOY and INCREDIBLE LOVE!

Holy God, YOU are never taken by surprise as we are.

That’s why Jesus came.

YOU knew we would need a Savior, a personal GOD to hold on,   the Lover of our souls, an intercessor who ever seeks to keep our hearts delivered from other gods that vie for attention.

And they are always lurking…pride and ambition push their thoughts upon us BUT there are also inward pulls of self absorption, doubt and fear.

YOU OVERCOME— every time.

We are in YOU, so we can overcome!

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Name of Jesus and how fervently HE prays for us” Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name– the name you gave me so that they may be one as we are one.” John 17:11b

That we may become one– what a prayer!

Moment to moment a conscious surrender to YOU breaks the back of the oppressor and sets the captive free and that is necessary for us all.

What will YOU carry us through in the months ahead?

What joy will be ours?

What work will unfold?

What glory will be revealed?

I know YOU are already there.

What comfort!

What assurance!

What a triumph!

” As you have sent me into the world, I sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself that they too may be TRULY sanctified.” John 17:18

We will be sent out and set apart for YOUR GLORY!

Choose the places we are to go.

Close all doors except the ones YOU open.

Plan our schedules, Lord– where we are to be and with whom.

Add,subtract, delete.

Give us strength to continue.

Shield us from the evil one.

YOUR prayer for us is also for ” those who will believe in me through their message.”

John 17:20

YOU care about people and so must we.

A praying life cares.

Develop it within us day after day.

You know the way for YOU ARE THE WAY.

Come Lord Jesus and bless each one who prays this prayer for their lives and embraces all YOU have planned for them.

” Every branch that does not bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:2

We will be pruned.

“He withdrew…to a solitary place.” Matthew 14:13

We must withdraw and pray.

” That night the Lord appeared to (Issac. ) Genesis 26:24

YOU still come when we call.

YOU come to us through circumstance, through others who care, through a RHEMA Word from YOUR WORD. YOU invade our thoughts and give us words to read, speak, sing — write.

We yearn for YOUR PRESENCE.

Call us dally.

We choose YOU.

YOU choose our way.

Hear our prayer for one another.

Accept our praise and gratitude.

KNOW that we trust in YOU alone.

In Jesus’ Name and Through His Life, I pray
May God Bless each of you,

What a glorious opportunity– a new work of prayer being birthed   in YOU.

For with YOU is the fountain of Life; In  YOUR LIGHT WE SEE LIGHT. Psalm 38:10

LIGHT ILLUMINES, REFLECTS, POINTS THE WAY, GUIDES, AND GUARDS FROM DANGER.

WE NEED LIGHT…PRACTICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

DARKNESS HIDES, HINDERS AND  HOLDS US HOSTAGE .

JESUS CAME TO BRING AN ETERNAL  LIGHT FOR ALL PEOPLE.

HIS BIRTH WAS PLANNED, BY A GOD OF LIGHT, ATTENDED BY ANGELS WHO SANG OF HIS LIGHT AND SHEPHERDS AND WISE MEN FOLLOWED A STAR TO DIRECT THEM TO TO THE MANAGER.

HOW DID MARY BIRTH A CHILD IN SUCH A PLACE?

THERE WAS WARMTH FROM THE ANIMALS, AN  EARTHLY HELP MEET NAMED JOSEPH AND THE ENTOURAGE  OF THOSE COMING TO PAY HOMAGE.

BUT, IT ALL BEGAN WITH MARY AND JOSEPH WHO TRUSTED THE LIGHT OF TRUTH.

MARY ACCEPTED THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN ANGEL  THAT SHE HAD BEEN CHOSEN  TO BE THE MOTHER OF THE CHRIST, CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT….” MAY IT BE TO ME AS YOU HAVE SAID.” LUKE 1:38

JOSEPH WAS ALERTED IN A DREAM ALSO BY AN ANGEL WHO CONFIRMED TO HIM THAT” MARY HAD CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT– A SON –” THEY WOULD  CALL HIM  “IMMANUEL”– WHICH MEANS GOD WITH US–

“WHEN JOSPEH WOKE UP HE DID WHAT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD HAD COMMANDED HIM AND TOOK MARY HOME  AS HIS WIFE.”  MATTHEW1:24

THESE CHOSEN ONES LIVED IN THE LIGHT OF DEVOTION , FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO THE GOD THEY SERVED.

THEY HEARD AND OBEYED.

OBEDIENCE REQUIRES ACTION NOT JUST ASSENT.

IT IS AN AMAZING ACCOUNT OF TRANSPARENT LIVES , OPEN TO THE LEADING OF GOD’S DIVINE LIGHT.

THEY HAD HANDS ON  INFLUENCE, LOVE AND WATCH CARE OVER THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

STARS IN THE HEAVENS WERE USED TO GUIDE THOSE COMING TO CELEBRATE  THIS EVENT WHICH WOULD FOREVER PIERCE THE DARKNESS OF OUR WORLD– GENERATIONS, RACES, AGES WOULD KNOW HOW JESUS’ BIRTH WOULD CHANGE LIFE.

PARDON, FORGIVENESS. MERCY, GRACE RESTORATION WOULD ADORN HEARTS WHO RECEIVED HIM.

THE  JOURNEY OF THE MANGER, CHILDHOOD, MANHOOD WOULD UNFOLD THE MISSION OF A LOVING GOD  WHO WOULD RECONCILE A LOST WORLD UNTO HIMSELF THOUGH JESUS.

THE CROSS WOULD BE THE SYMBOL OF SACRIFICE AS JESUS’ BLOOD WAS POURED OUT FOR OUR SIN, ALL SIN, ALL MEN.

NOW THE CHRIST OF SCRIPTURES CAN LIVE WITHIN US BY HIS SPIRIT.  HALLELUJAH!

” BUT TO AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD.”JOHN 1:12

WE CAN HEAR, RECEIVE , BELIEVE AND THEN BELONG.

WILL YOU?

ONLY YOU CAN CHOOSE.

HOW?

BY OPENING UP YOUR HEART  IN PRAYER– INVITING HIM TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE, TO CLEANSE YOU OF ALL THE SIN THAT HAS BEEN WEIGHTING YOU DOWN BURYING  ALL HOPE. CONFESSION OF SIN IS THE DOOR TO OPEN .

HE WILL COME.

IF YOU DO THIS– HIS LIGHT WILL BECOME COMPELLING– IN THE WORD OF GOD, THROUGH PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW HIM, IN CIRCUMSTANCES, IN DECISIONS, IN ILLNESS, IN TRIUMPHS AND FAILURES, IN LOSS AND DOUBT, THROUGH IT ALL YOU WILL KNOW YOU BELONG TO HIM AND THEREFORE HIS LIGHT WILL OPEN THE WAY MOMENT TO MOMENT , DAY BY DAY…YES NIGHT TO NIGHT.

WILL YOU?

COME TO THE MANGER AND SEE.

A BABE BORN A KING.

KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS, YOUR KING, YOUR SAVIOR AND FOREVER HE WILL POINT THE WAY FOR YOU THROUGH ALL THE SEASONS OF LIFE.

THEN AS MEMBER OF THE FAMILY OF GOD YOU WILL MEET FOLKS  WHO LOOK DIFFERENT FROM YOU BUT YOU WILL KNOW THEM AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS  IN FAITH!

WHAT A CHRISTMAS GIFT, ETERNAL, EVERLASTING.

COME!

MERRY CHRISTMAS. FOLLOW HIS LIGHT!

BILLIE

 

 

Billie Cash is a southern lady of many talents who resides in Collierville, Tennessee with her husband Roy Cash, U.S. Navy Captain (Retired). Attending the University of Memphis, she majored in theatre, which led to successful ventures in radio at WHER, America’s first “all women” station, television commercials, and performance roles at Front Street Theatre as well as theatres in other states. Her musical background embraces musical comedy but she has also soloed with the Norfolk Symphony, Norfolk, VA. Billie’s worship CD “Light Your World” was recorded in Midhurst, England. For thirty years she was immersed in the challenges of military life. Her son CDR Carey Cash, U.S. Navy Chaplain, is presently serving as Deputy Command Chaplain aboard the USS Stennis, nuclear carrier in Bremerton, WA. Her daughter Kellye Cash, Miss America 1987 is musically involved in many directions and will be stepping up to a leadership role in 2017 with Youth Town, an amazing organization working with troubled youth.  While serving alongside her husband, Billie developed motivational workshops which took her to the four corners of America with Navy commands, civic and marketing groups, nursing staffs and public schools. She is a retreat/conference speaker who has done itineraries in the British Isles and Dominican Republic. Billie has authored six books which she calls “signposts” for Christian living. She continues work on another  book manuscript but has also developed  two sets of retreat materials. One is based on Galatians 5:22″ The Fruit of the Spirit”and  the other is Ephesians 2:10 ” You Are God’s Masterpiece.” Billie is a motivator. Her guest speaking includes military bases at special events honoring military wives and active duty women, Eagle Forum, and Salvation Army. Two weekly posts are written every Saturday on Face book. On her profile page, it is entitled ” Sunday Grace.” For her author’s page, it is entitled,” Writing Word.”   Prayer is the work of her life. She moderates a monthly God and Prayer group in her community as well as mentoring prayer locally and across the nation. She being brings humor and authenticity framed with biblical insight for today’s culture. Her joy is the legacy of twelve grandchildren.