Hello Beloved,
Today in Sunday School class our lesson was on 1 Kings 17:8-16
It was about how Elijah went to the poor woman's house and ask for something to drink.
Now the widow woman was obedient and she brought him a drink and Elijah ask her for some
food and the widow woman told him that she had little meal and a little oil and that was all and that she was going to fix her son and herself their last meal.. Elijah told her not to fear and to do as he asked .. Well, she did and her meal and oil lasted until the day the Lord sent rain upon the earth.
The widow woman was obedient to what was ask of her... How many times have we been ask and have we been obedient ?
I got in on the last part of the lesson today as I had an emergency to take care of ... so I missed allot of what class was about, but I got there in time to hear a lady tell what this all meant to her... It was a visual testimony... and a good one..... I will try to remember what she said and how she said it but it was really visual.
She said that God impressed on her that we have a certain way to walk... right foot , left foot,
we have a receiving and a giving nature.... and if we do nothing but give or receive all the time we get to a place where we can not move without falling .. and the only way we can get back up is to bend our knee and then stand... now it may not sound like much in the written word but it was POWERFUL in the visual way.... So when we walk we are to walk in a receiving and giving equal mode.... I just thought it was neat the way she did it... I thought it was so cool that I even came home and wrote on the front of my shoes, right foot , receiving, left foot giving. so I will always remember to give both equal time and to kneel in prayer often..... I hope someone asks me what it means so I can explain it to them too...
God Bless you all today and remember to Smile, when you do you are dressed the most beautiful you can be...... God loves you and so do I.... your friend in Christ Jesus, billiemae
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Foot Washing
Good Afternoon Beloved,
Remember the other day I was telling you about a book by Max Lucado, called 3:16?
Well I am almost finished with the book..Anyway I am reading in the part called 40 days of Devotions right now and I am on Day 25 , called ,Step In The Basin. I found what he had to say
interesting....
In John 13: 1-20, ( about foot washing)
This is before the feast of the passover and supper just ended and the devil
has put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus.. Jesus rises from supper and removes his garment and puts on a towel. He takes a basin and some water and he starts to wash the feet of the disciples and then wipes them dry.. This is the Son of God doing servants work...The Son of God. Now why did he do that?
John 13: 10 KJV
Jesus says to Peter,
" He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Now in other translations this is what is it saying... and I will paraphrase it..
In the NIV, NLT and NASB it is stated like this:
You had a bath and are clean all over except for your feet... and to be clean all over you need your feet washed. But not everyone here is clean...
So the way I figured it ( I may be wrong) is even after we have be " washed by baptism " we still need to be cleaned. I think maybe the way I figured it is that we are to ask for forgiveness to be cleansed again.
In John 13: 13-15
It talks about how we are to do as Jesus did with this example.
So in the church I attend we do have a foot washing service and we do it with communion after.
If you have never attended a foot washing service I would suggest that you do, it is very humbling. You need to go to the alter and ask forgiveness and ask the person or persons who may be keeping you from feeling truly forgiven to forgive you . Invite them to come to the service also.. It is a time of renewal for you .
We had a foot washing service this month at church and I must confess it was the most humbling one I have ever attended.... It was a real cleansing for my soul..... Someone whom I have harbored angry against was the one who washed my feet this time.... Talk about a soul cleansing service.... this one was. Now before I could go into this service I had to ask forgiveness and I did. I prayed for along time before I could go... Sometimes we hold on to things that it is better for us to let go of... Angry, hurts, jealousy, stress, or anything that keeps you from having peace within your soul..... Peace is so very important.. Even when you have things coming at you from all sides, kids need help with homework, husband wanting something from you, friends calling, your job is pulling at you, bills overdue, no money in the bank, seems like a zillion things at once are pulling and tugging at you and YET you can still have peace....... God is so good.... How do I know you can still have peace? Because I have been there and done that... yet I have peace..... It was not always so but it is now and I Prasie God for it!!! Just remember that a foot washing service is all about humbling yourself... Our Lord and Savior did it and do we think we are too good to do it too? Not this old girl , not anymore.... read John 13:16.
Well til next time... remember to Smile , when you do you are dressed the most beautiful you can be.
God Bless , your friend in Christ Jesus. vickie
Remember the other day I was telling you about a book by Max Lucado, called 3:16?
Well I am almost finished with the book..Anyway I am reading in the part called 40 days of Devotions right now and I am on Day 25 , called ,Step In The Basin. I found what he had to say
interesting....
In John 13: 1-20, ( about foot washing)
This is before the feast of the passover and supper just ended and the devil
has put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus.. Jesus rises from supper and removes his garment and puts on a towel. He takes a basin and some water and he starts to wash the feet of the disciples and then wipes them dry.. This is the Son of God doing servants work...The Son of God. Now why did he do that?
John 13: 10 KJV
Jesus says to Peter,
" He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Now in other translations this is what is it saying... and I will paraphrase it..
In the NIV, NLT and NASB it is stated like this:
You had a bath and are clean all over except for your feet... and to be clean all over you need your feet washed. But not everyone here is clean...
So the way I figured it ( I may be wrong) is even after we have be " washed by baptism " we still need to be cleaned. I think maybe the way I figured it is that we are to ask for forgiveness to be cleansed again.
In John 13: 13-15
It talks about how we are to do as Jesus did with this example.
So in the church I attend we do have a foot washing service and we do it with communion after.
If you have never attended a foot washing service I would suggest that you do, it is very humbling. You need to go to the alter and ask forgiveness and ask the person or persons who may be keeping you from feeling truly forgiven to forgive you . Invite them to come to the service also.. It is a time of renewal for you .
We had a foot washing service this month at church and I must confess it was the most humbling one I have ever attended.... It was a real cleansing for my soul..... Someone whom I have harbored angry against was the one who washed my feet this time.... Talk about a soul cleansing service.... this one was. Now before I could go into this service I had to ask forgiveness and I did. I prayed for along time before I could go... Sometimes we hold on to things that it is better for us to let go of... Angry, hurts, jealousy, stress, or anything that keeps you from having peace within your soul..... Peace is so very important.. Even when you have things coming at you from all sides, kids need help with homework, husband wanting something from you, friends calling, your job is pulling at you, bills overdue, no money in the bank, seems like a zillion things at once are pulling and tugging at you and YET you can still have peace....... God is so good.... How do I know you can still have peace? Because I have been there and done that... yet I have peace..... It was not always so but it is now and I Prasie God for it!!! Just remember that a foot washing service is all about humbling yourself... Our Lord and Savior did it and do we think we are too good to do it too? Not this old girl , not anymore.... read John 13:16.
Well til next time... remember to Smile , when you do you are dressed the most beautiful you can be.
God Bless , your friend in Christ Jesus. vickie
Monday, January 25, 2010
Meaning of Names
Hello Beloved,
Today I want to share with you something I shared with my email " family" back in
November of 2009. I hope you enjoy it and that it will help you with your Bible studies..
The meaning of the names of the 12 tribes of Israel....
Reuben--- behold a son
Simeon --- hearing
Levi --- attached
Judah --- praise
Dan --- he judged
Naphtali - wrestling
Gad-------he judged
Asher ----happy blessed
Issachar--hireling/ wages
Zebulun -- exaltation/ gifts
Joseph----he will add
Benjamin---son of the right hand
This is the order of birth of the 12 tribes of Israel. When you read and see these names put the meaning in the sentence and see if it makes the sentence come alive with new meaning for you.
........NOT change the meaning , but make it come alive.
An example would be like this:
ex. Judges 1:1-4
It is talking about after Joshua died, who will fight for Israel now? Judah ( praise) says to his brother Simeon ( hearing) you come and help me and I will go and help you. They help one another in their fight against the enemy... Now the way our Pastor taught was like this:
When you are getting ready for a battle you need to send your praise up so it can be heard,
and that is when the blessings start to come down.. So in other words, if you are going through
something right now, illness, something is weighing you down emotionally, or your spirit is in turmoil, the thing to do is start PRAISING! Yes, that is correct PRAISE GOD!!, tell Him. Quote Isaiah 9:6, Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Tell God He is All in All, He is the Righteous Judge, He is the First and the Last, tell Him how much you love Him. He is YOUR Father remember.
I think I am telling this more to me then anyone else. I need to start telling Him how much I love Him, and who I think He is... He is my EVERYTHING!!! I do not understand how someone
can go through a day without Him.. I love God so much and I talk to Him all the time... but, I could do better.. I need to PRAISE Him ... I want Him to hear me when I pray... You know you go and listen to your teachers or pastors at church and you think you are listening but then sometimes you go and yo really do HEAR and that is what happened to me in Bible study last night.. I had on my " real " ears... God is so good to us.... We need to be obedient to Him and
"LISTEN" to His Word.. It teaches us..
I really want to make Heaven my home.. I am trying so hard to learn and pass on what I learn..
I do not want any to be left behind... I really do love all I meet.. ( may not like what they are
doing but I do love em!) and want them to know what I know that Jesus is coming and He will be here really, really soon... I hope that understanding the meaning of the names will help you understand better what we need in our lives... Remember what Jesus said in John 14:6
" I am the way, the truth , and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
So NOW is the time for us to do something for the Lord BEFORE it is to late.
God Bless You and know that He loves you .... so do I.
Smile, when you do, you are dressed the most beautiful you can be.
billiemae
Today I want to share with you something I shared with my email " family" back in
November of 2009. I hope you enjoy it and that it will help you with your Bible studies..
The meaning of the names of the 12 tribes of Israel....
Reuben--- behold a son
Simeon --- hearing
Levi --- attached
Judah --- praise
Dan --- he judged
Naphtali - wrestling
Gad-------he judged
Asher ----happy blessed
Issachar--hireling/ wages
Zebulun -- exaltation/ gifts
Joseph----he will add
Benjamin---son of the right hand
This is the order of birth of the 12 tribes of Israel. When you read and see these names put the meaning in the sentence and see if it makes the sentence come alive with new meaning for you.
........NOT change the meaning , but make it come alive.
An example would be like this:
ex. Judges 1:1-4
It is talking about after Joshua died, who will fight for Israel now? Judah ( praise) says to his brother Simeon ( hearing) you come and help me and I will go and help you. They help one another in their fight against the enemy... Now the way our Pastor taught was like this:
When you are getting ready for a battle you need to send your praise up so it can be heard,
and that is when the blessings start to come down.. So in other words, if you are going through
something right now, illness, something is weighing you down emotionally, or your spirit is in turmoil, the thing to do is start PRAISING! Yes, that is correct PRAISE GOD!!, tell Him. Quote Isaiah 9:6, Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Tell God He is All in All, He is the Righteous Judge, He is the First and the Last, tell Him how much you love Him. He is YOUR Father remember.
I think I am telling this more to me then anyone else. I need to start telling Him how much I love Him, and who I think He is... He is my EVERYTHING!!! I do not understand how someone
can go through a day without Him.. I love God so much and I talk to Him all the time... but, I could do better.. I need to PRAISE Him ... I want Him to hear me when I pray... You know you go and listen to your teachers or pastors at church and you think you are listening but then sometimes you go and yo really do HEAR and that is what happened to me in Bible study last night.. I had on my " real " ears... God is so good to us.... We need to be obedient to Him and
"LISTEN" to His Word.. It teaches us..
I really want to make Heaven my home.. I am trying so hard to learn and pass on what I learn..
I do not want any to be left behind... I really do love all I meet.. ( may not like what they are
doing but I do love em!) and want them to know what I know that Jesus is coming and He will be here really, really soon... I hope that understanding the meaning of the names will help you understand better what we need in our lives... Remember what Jesus said in John 14:6
" I am the way, the truth , and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
So NOW is the time for us to do something for the Lord BEFORE it is to late.
God Bless You and know that He loves you .... so do I.
Smile, when you do, you are dressed the most beautiful you can be.
billiemae
Friday, January 22, 2010
3:16
Good Morning Beloved!
Today I want to touch on a book I am now reading... It is by Max Lucado called 3:16.
It is of course the Bible verse John 3:16. We all know it by heart.. It is of course a pretty good book to read,
By now you all know that I like to read.... I like to tell you what I have found interesting in the book... I hope I can make it sound interesting enough for you to want to read too....
God is so good.. Today I woke up with new breath in my body and movement of my limbs so that by it's self
is a good day.
What do you like to do upon getting out of bed each day? Do you have a habit of doing the same ole , same ole, each morning? Making that cup of coffee or tea and maybe getting the kids ready and off to school, or getting ready to go to your job. Have you ever thought about what it will be like when you get to Heaven? I know I have.. I wonder what will my Creator have me do? Will I keep some of the characteristics I have now or will I
be completely different? Where is Heaven? What about the city called New Jerusalem, what will it be like?
I have lots of questions about where I will be going, do you?
Well in this book called 3:16 I have just read a chapter that has some interesting thoughts.
It is in the middle of the book and it is chapter 11 and called What Mkes heaven Heavenly... I found it
interesting.. I found it to give me Hope for where I will be going in words that I understand...
Do you find sometimes that when you read God's Word that your understanding is just not there? I do..
That is the reason Beloved that I go to a good Bible based church and listen to the Word being taught by a
Pastor who loves the Lord Jesus Chirst with all of his heart.... That my Beloved is what each and everyone
of should do.... Time is so short now til the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.... Please
if you are still struggling trying to figure out who you are ... just read John 3:16 and know that you
are a WHOSOEVER... Jesus loves YOU.
Would you today like to ask Jesus into your heart? It is so easy. Just tell Him that you are sorry for all you have done wrong and that you ask Him to please forgive you and ask Him to come into your heart and change
you into the person that He wants you to be... It is just that simple.... Come to Him as a little child.... It does
not make any difference how old or young you are...... YOU are now HIS child... He will never leave you nor will he ever forsake you.... wherever you go HE will be inside of you .....
John 3:16 is my favorite verse in all the Bible..... I am a WHOSOEVER!
May God Bless the day you are in today, with all that you need... and please remember,
Smile, when you do , you are dressed the most beautiful you can be...
In the love of Christ Jesus, vickie
Today I want to touch on a book I am now reading... It is by Max Lucado called 3:16.
It is of course the Bible verse John 3:16. We all know it by heart.. It is of course a pretty good book to read,
By now you all know that I like to read.... I like to tell you what I have found interesting in the book... I hope I can make it sound interesting enough for you to want to read too....
God is so good.. Today I woke up with new breath in my body and movement of my limbs so that by it's self
is a good day.
What do you like to do upon getting out of bed each day? Do you have a habit of doing the same ole , same ole, each morning? Making that cup of coffee or tea and maybe getting the kids ready and off to school, or getting ready to go to your job. Have you ever thought about what it will be like when you get to Heaven? I know I have.. I wonder what will my Creator have me do? Will I keep some of the characteristics I have now or will I
be completely different? Where is Heaven? What about the city called New Jerusalem, what will it be like?
I have lots of questions about where I will be going, do you?
Well in this book called 3:16 I have just read a chapter that has some interesting thoughts.
It is in the middle of the book and it is chapter 11 and called What Mkes heaven Heavenly... I found it
interesting.. I found it to give me Hope for where I will be going in words that I understand...
Do you find sometimes that when you read God's Word that your understanding is just not there? I do..
That is the reason Beloved that I go to a good Bible based church and listen to the Word being taught by a
Pastor who loves the Lord Jesus Chirst with all of his heart.... That my Beloved is what each and everyone
of should do.... Time is so short now til the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.... Please
if you are still struggling trying to figure out who you are ... just read John 3:16 and know that you
are a WHOSOEVER... Jesus loves YOU.
Would you today like to ask Jesus into your heart? It is so easy. Just tell Him that you are sorry for all you have done wrong and that you ask Him to please forgive you and ask Him to come into your heart and change
you into the person that He wants you to be... It is just that simple.... Come to Him as a little child.... It does
not make any difference how old or young you are...... YOU are now HIS child... He will never leave you nor will he ever forsake you.... wherever you go HE will be inside of you .....
John 3:16 is my favorite verse in all the Bible..... I am a WHOSOEVER!
May God Bless the day you are in today, with all that you need... and please remember,
Smile, when you do , you are dressed the most beautiful you can be...
In the love of Christ Jesus, vickie
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Answers
Hello Beloved!
I have something I would like to talk to you about... I have a friend who has so much going for her.
I really admire this young woman... She has been through some pretty rough times in the past couple
of years. BUT, she has come through with so much strength.
I have only just recently met this young woman in the last few months but upon meeting her I felt such a
kindred spirit with her... Have you ever just met someone and was like instant friends with them? That is what
happened with my new friend. I want to tell you what she did to help make it through all the rough times.
She reminds me in some ways of my darling sister, Lois. Full of wisdom and inner strength and beauty.
She called it " I GOT A YELLOW"
She had a yellow folder on hand with a yellow hi-lighter so that is how the name came about..
She called herself the YELLOW ROAD WARRIOR, isnt that neat? I like it.
What she did was get a pad of paper and starting writing down each and every prayer she said....and when that prayer was answered she would hi-light it with the yellow marker... As her prayers were answered she found her her faith and strength building... She would look back and see what God had brought her through.
So over a course of time she became a great woman of FAITH and STRENGTH .... She found she needed both
to battle against her health... But Praise God she is still going strong and and getting more strength each day..
She has been an inspiration to me and I continue to watch her and see how God is working in her life and how so many other people are learning how to become strong by just watching and being near her...
God is so good to each one of us... I am so glad that I now know just how good...
My prayer for you today is this......
Dear Lord Jesus,
Today as each one of us goes through the stuggles of our own life that you would show us someone
who has the strength to face their struggle and if that person is myself then Lord Jesus Thank you
for showing me that I too can face whatever comes at me as long as I have you and know that ...
You are so good to me and you are wonderful and sweet and loving and forgiving and I love you more
today then I did yesterday... You are my Lord.... and I want to be in your will... Thank you
Lord Jesus for my struggles... and for going thru with me... In Jesus name Amen.
Remember to Smile, when you do you are dressed the most beautiful you can be..
your friend in Christ Jesus.... vickie
I have something I would like to talk to you about... I have a friend who has so much going for her.
I really admire this young woman... She has been through some pretty rough times in the past couple
of years. BUT, she has come through with so much strength.
I have only just recently met this young woman in the last few months but upon meeting her I felt such a
kindred spirit with her... Have you ever just met someone and was like instant friends with them? That is what
happened with my new friend. I want to tell you what she did to help make it through all the rough times.
She reminds me in some ways of my darling sister, Lois. Full of wisdom and inner strength and beauty.
She called it " I GOT A YELLOW"
She had a yellow folder on hand with a yellow hi-lighter so that is how the name came about..
She called herself the YELLOW ROAD WARRIOR, isnt that neat? I like it.
What she did was get a pad of paper and starting writing down each and every prayer she said....and when that prayer was answered she would hi-light it with the yellow marker... As her prayers were answered she found her her faith and strength building... She would look back and see what God had brought her through.
So over a course of time she became a great woman of FAITH and STRENGTH .... She found she needed both
to battle against her health... But Praise God she is still going strong and and getting more strength each day..
She has been an inspiration to me and I continue to watch her and see how God is working in her life and how so many other people are learning how to become strong by just watching and being near her...
God is so good to each one of us... I am so glad that I now know just how good...
My prayer for you today is this......
Dear Lord Jesus,
Today as each one of us goes through the stuggles of our own life that you would show us someone
who has the strength to face their struggle and if that person is myself then Lord Jesus Thank you
for showing me that I too can face whatever comes at me as long as I have you and know that ...
You are so good to me and you are wonderful and sweet and loving and forgiving and I love you more
today then I did yesterday... You are my Lord.... and I want to be in your will... Thank you
Lord Jesus for my struggles... and for going thru with me... In Jesus name Amen.
Remember to Smile, when you do you are dressed the most beautiful you can be..
your friend in Christ Jesus.... vickie
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Two Babies in a Manger
I received this in an email and thought it was a beautiful story.
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russians Department of education
to teach morals and ethics(based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited
to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage.
About 100 boys and girls, who had been abandoned , abused, and left in the care of the government run program were in the orphanage.
They relate the following story in their own words: It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas . We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.
Throughout the story , the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened.
Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.
Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel ( cut from a worn-out nightgown and American lady was throwing aways as she left Russia) were used for the baby's blanket.
A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat.. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but tow babies in the manger.
Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.
For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately- until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.. Then Misha started to ad-lib.
He made up his own ending to the story as he said, " And when Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mama, and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay.. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him.
But, I told him I couldn't because I didn't have a gift to give Him like everybody else did. But,
I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift.
So I asked Jesus, If I keep you warm , will that be a good enough gift? And , Jesus told me, "If you keep Me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave Me."
So I got into the manger , and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him, for always."
As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little
cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him-- for always.
And the Americans? They had learned the lesson they had come there to teach-- that it is not
what you have in your life, but WHO you have in your life that really counts.
We should give thanks for the people that " keep us warm" in life, and for all of God's many
blessings to us: freedom from want, life, love, togetherness, and for the enduring love of Jesus Christ, the one person who keeps us warm and safe for always.
Author Unknown
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russians Department of education
to teach morals and ethics(based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited
to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage.
About 100 boys and girls, who had been abandoned , abused, and left in the care of the government run program were in the orphanage.
They relate the following story in their own words: It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas . We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.
Throughout the story , the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened.
Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.
Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel ( cut from a worn-out nightgown and American lady was throwing aways as she left Russia) were used for the baby's blanket.
A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat.. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but tow babies in the manger.
Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.
For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately- until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.. Then Misha started to ad-lib.
He made up his own ending to the story as he said, " And when Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mama, and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay.. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him.
But, I told him I couldn't because I didn't have a gift to give Him like everybody else did. But,
I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift.
So I asked Jesus, If I keep you warm , will that be a good enough gift? And , Jesus told me, "If you keep Me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave Me."
So I got into the manger , and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him, for always."
As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little
cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him-- for always.
And the Americans? They had learned the lesson they had come there to teach-- that it is not
what you have in your life, but WHO you have in your life that really counts.
We should give thanks for the people that " keep us warm" in life, and for all of God's many
blessings to us: freedom from want, life, love, togetherness, and for the enduring love of Jesus Christ, the one person who keeps us warm and safe for always.
Author Unknown
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire Part 3
Hello Beloved,
Well, I have just today finished the book. WOW!!! I really wish everyone could read this book..
I feel like I have been on a great journey. What a GREAT trip! I have several things I would like to say to you and they may all seem abit like rambling but please bear with me.
We had a mini conference at our church this weekend, and I want to tell you that it was NOT
a accident that I choose this book to read a couple of weeks ago. I have been on a spiritual journey of which I wouldn't trade for anything.. didn't understand it till now.. ( started several years ago and I just wasn't paying attention to well ) , but you see that is how God works... on a need to know base ( or at least an understanding base) . This Pastor Cooper was sent to talk to me.( have you ever felt that way about a sermon?) I had gone in and spoke with a girl from our church that morning and she said something( maybe I heard if from one of you or read it somewhere , but I just got it today!) that like an onion which has layers so do we have layers of
things which need to be gone through.. and that to me was like wow! so in evening service that is what happened to me while Pastor Cooper spoke... layers of grief, anger, hurts, ect.... started going away and it HURT! but it was a good hurt... I wish I could describe in words to make sense but I can't do that so onward and forward we go.
This morning while I was in the shower ( doesn't God speak to us in the strangest places.)
I got to thinking on different things and low and behold God shows me somethings.
When I was a little girl I thought of myself as the ugly duckling. I had and still do have ( thank
God) three of the most beautiful and wonderful sisters any one person could ever have, and two
great brothers. Whew, all the things that my brothers and sisters could and still can do, and
then there was me. I was always whining and in the way... Please bear with me now,
this is NOT a sad sack story, but just a beginning...
I felt like I was the luckiest kid on the block, I truly did believe that .. ( It was not just my Pollyanna complex either.) I was loved by each one of them and spoiled rotten! But see I didn't see anything special in me.. not like them. I was ( to me) just in the way and friendless and ugly.
( the one all the kids wanted to beat up on) Why do we do that to ourselves? Now , back to the shower.
I was thinking about all these things and it came to me that just a few days ago while I was in
prayer, that something came into my spirit about love.. From the earliest memory I have it is about love..
Daddy loved me, my sisters loved me, my brothers loved me. I just thought about the things
in my life and how they were always there and I found it to be amazing , they all loved me.
The only person who did not love me was me.. In prayer it came back to me , just like a movie
picture . Me as a little child going about the neighborhood doing what I could for all the old folks and helping my little friends stay out of trouble , taking care of the little animals , and just going around loving anyway I could.... That is when it hit me..... That is my gift.... LOVE.... God chose me to love whoever, whenever, wherever, I am... But that it was time for me to start loving
myself... Now I am here to tell you that is NOT an easy thing for me to do.... but I am learning..
Now back to the conference.
While I was at the alter this is what God was doing for me, peeling away layers of my life where
I thought I was not good enough for anyone.. I was just peeling away layers of what I believed other people thought...
You may be asking what has that to do with the book you read.... Well , I will tell you..
This book is about prayer. One of my sisters sent me something about a month ago and it went something like this.....If you have a need in your life, pray about it, make it a real effort and really think about it ... don't be surprise if something happens now , ok?
This is what I wrote down from that email.
STARTING TODAY AND FOR THE NEXT 29 DAYS I WILL PRAY FOR__________.
and when you pray, pray like you really mean it..
I did this starting on October 1 and for 29 days I prayed and then it came to pass at the conference..... God is so good. We need to listen to the Spirit of God speak... I'm learning.
So see this book has been an important work for me.. I needed this book and the conference
to help me grow...
In the final pages of this good book is something I had never thought about..
alter call---- mini prayer meeting... so I hope that each of us will remember to have a alter
call each and everyday.. God loves you so much... I love you too.
May God Bless the day you are in with all that you need today... Smile , when you do you are dressed the most beautiful you can be...
your friend in Christ Jesus. billiemae
This is from an email sent out to family and friends in November 2009
Well, I have just today finished the book. WOW!!! I really wish everyone could read this book..
I feel like I have been on a great journey. What a GREAT trip! I have several things I would like to say to you and they may all seem abit like rambling but please bear with me.
We had a mini conference at our church this weekend, and I want to tell you that it was NOT
a accident that I choose this book to read a couple of weeks ago. I have been on a spiritual journey of which I wouldn't trade for anything.. didn't understand it till now.. ( started several years ago and I just wasn't paying attention to well ) , but you see that is how God works... on a need to know base ( or at least an understanding base) . This Pastor Cooper was sent to talk to me.( have you ever felt that way about a sermon?) I had gone in and spoke with a girl from our church that morning and she said something( maybe I heard if from one of you or read it somewhere , but I just got it today!) that like an onion which has layers so do we have layers of
things which need to be gone through.. and that to me was like wow! so in evening service that is what happened to me while Pastor Cooper spoke... layers of grief, anger, hurts, ect.... started going away and it HURT! but it was a good hurt... I wish I could describe in words to make sense but I can't do that so onward and forward we go.
This morning while I was in the shower ( doesn't God speak to us in the strangest places.)
I got to thinking on different things and low and behold God shows me somethings.
When I was a little girl I thought of myself as the ugly duckling. I had and still do have ( thank
God) three of the most beautiful and wonderful sisters any one person could ever have, and two
great brothers. Whew, all the things that my brothers and sisters could and still can do, and
then there was me. I was always whining and in the way... Please bear with me now,
this is NOT a sad sack story, but just a beginning...
I felt like I was the luckiest kid on the block, I truly did believe that .. ( It was not just my Pollyanna complex either.) I was loved by each one of them and spoiled rotten! But see I didn't see anything special in me.. not like them. I was ( to me) just in the way and friendless and ugly.
( the one all the kids wanted to beat up on) Why do we do that to ourselves? Now , back to the shower.
I was thinking about all these things and it came to me that just a few days ago while I was in
prayer, that something came into my spirit about love.. From the earliest memory I have it is about love..
Daddy loved me, my sisters loved me, my brothers loved me. I just thought about the things
in my life and how they were always there and I found it to be amazing , they all loved me.
The only person who did not love me was me.. In prayer it came back to me , just like a movie
picture . Me as a little child going about the neighborhood doing what I could for all the old folks and helping my little friends stay out of trouble , taking care of the little animals , and just going around loving anyway I could.... That is when it hit me..... That is my gift.... LOVE.... God chose me to love whoever, whenever, wherever, I am... But that it was time for me to start loving
myself... Now I am here to tell you that is NOT an easy thing for me to do.... but I am learning..
Now back to the conference.
While I was at the alter this is what God was doing for me, peeling away layers of my life where
I thought I was not good enough for anyone.. I was just peeling away layers of what I believed other people thought...
You may be asking what has that to do with the book you read.... Well , I will tell you..
This book is about prayer. One of my sisters sent me something about a month ago and it went something like this.....If you have a need in your life, pray about it, make it a real effort and really think about it ... don't be surprise if something happens now , ok?
This is what I wrote down from that email.
STARTING TODAY AND FOR THE NEXT 29 DAYS I WILL PRAY FOR__________.
and when you pray, pray like you really mean it..
I did this starting on October 1 and for 29 days I prayed and then it came to pass at the conference..... God is so good. We need to listen to the Spirit of God speak... I'm learning.
So see this book has been an important work for me.. I needed this book and the conference
to help me grow...
In the final pages of this good book is something I had never thought about..
alter call---- mini prayer meeting... so I hope that each of us will remember to have a alter
call each and everyday.. God loves you so much... I love you too.
May God Bless the day you are in with all that you need today... Smile , when you do you are dressed the most beautiful you can be...
your friend in Christ Jesus. billiemae
This is from an email sent out to family and friends in November 2009
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