HOW FAR?

 

(The names in this story have been changed to their Nigerian meanings.) 

 

"Grace” had to decide just how far she was willing to go.  She met an immigrant named “Kind”.  The people of her country looked down on immigrants even when they applied for and gained legal status but she was drawn to him and agreed to marry him. 

 

Most people struggle with their new in-laws in a new marriage but she liked her mother-in-law, “Winsome”.  Her father-in-law had passed away before she met Kind so his mother lived with them.  Kind’s brother, “Strength”, also lived with them and he decided to get married to someone from her hometown named "Hart”.  Even after being married for ten years Grace and Hart did not have any children yet there was a lot of love in their combined families for each other. 

 

Kind and Strength were suddenly killed, leaving the women to fend for themselves.  After a time, Winsome decided to go back to her own country and because Grace and Hart loved her so much, they decided to go with her.  They started out on the journey and then Winsome decided to send them back.  She knew that they would be immigrants in her own country and not readily accepted by her people; she also knew that it would be difficult to impossible to provide for all three of them. 

 

(You can probably guess where this story came from and who it is about by now:  Grace represents Ruth and Winsome represents her mother-in-law, Naomi.  The story is taken from Ruth 1:1-19) 

 

After a little bit of struggling with the idea of returning Hart reluctantly left Grace and Winsome on the road.  Winsome tried to convince Grace to return with Hart; this is why she now faced the dilemma:  how far?  How far would she go?  Would she return to her hometown with Hart or would she go on with Winsome? 

 

We know from the book of Ruth in the Scriptures that she made the decision to go all the way.  We should look to Ruth as our example for the year 2022; part of the way just won't cut it.  The “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous states, “Half measures avail us nothing.”  Grace (Ruth) deeply loved Winsome (Naomi) and decided to leave the familiar comforts of her own country to travel to another country where she would be the shunned immigrant.  She did it out of love. 

 

How far?  How far will you go in 2022?  How far will your love of Jesus propel you?  Will you travel with Him in this New Year?  Will you make it a point to meet with Him every morning to gain an awareness of His companionship for the day?  When we go on a journey with a friend or loved one, we spend time talking together.  When we walk with Jesus throughout the day, we spend time talking with Him, fulfilling His command to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).  He gives us His insight as to what is going on around us.  Brothers and Sisters, we ARE on a journey with Him toward HIS country.  Even though the time grows shorter every day we still have time to learn and grow closer and closer to Him. 

So, I ask you again, how far?  How far will you go in 2022?

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

To all my friends, loved-ones, and followers:

I pray that this Christmas is the most blessed you have ever experienced and this next year you grow closer and closer to our wonderful Lord and Savior every day!

I continue to be blessed and highly favored as I continue to live in obedience to the Lord here in Montana. That is the KEY you know...living in obedience to the Lord. I highly recommend to you, one and all, to do a word study in the Bible of the word “obey” and you will be blessed by how many things He has promised and gives us when we walk in obedience. Obedience prolongs our lives, and the woman who reverently worships, serves, obeys, and trusts the Lord shall be praised. Another blessing that comes from obedience is that those who obey will be justified [pronounced free of the guilt of sin and declared acceptable to Him. There are many more promises that are the fruit of obedience. Really, dig into the Word and discover them for yourself and you will be richly blessed!

I still live near my Sister and Brother-in-law here in Billings, Montana. I weathered the first part of the stronghold of COVID-19. Yes, I called it a stronghold for that seems to be what it truly is. During the past year and a half it has seized our lives and turned them inside out. Just when we think we have it under control another variance emerges. Why would I call it a stronghold? The Biblical definition of “stronghold” is “old, difficult, discouraging challenges”. Since COVID-19 has become an old, difficult, and discouraging challenge it is a stronghold. THINK ABOUT THIS: what does God tell us to do with strongholds? “The truth is that, although of course we lead normal human lives, the battle we are fighting is on the spiritual level. The very weapons we use are not those of human warfare but powerful in God’s warfare for the destruction of the enemy’s strongholds. Our battle is to bring down every deceptive fantasy and every imposing defense that men erect against the true knowledge of God. We even fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ. Once we are sure of your obedience we shall not shrink from dealing with those who refuse to obey. “- 2 Corinthians 10:5b PHILLIPS. Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, it is time for us to rise up and tear down the stronghold of COVID by the power of the Lord. It is not the responsibility of unbelievers, it is ours! Will you join me in pulling down this stronghold through the power of the Lord in prayer?

Every year during Advent I ask the Lord Jesus what He wants for His birthday. He blesses me with requests that end up enabling me to grow closer to Him. Is that not like Him to ask for birthday presents that bless us as well? Will you not join me in asking Him what He would like to receive from you this year? Believe me, you WILL be blessed when you do.

I continue to attend Billings Freedom Church even though it is mostly by online internet streaming. God is moving greatly in our part of the Body of Christ. New families have joined and a number of children have been dedicated to the Lord. Our Worship and Youth Leader, Pastor Joshua Black, has moved with his family back to Texas to help in the Church his Mother pastors and our minister-in-training, Randy Bear Don’t Walk, has finished his education and is moving on to the new ministry the Lord has called him to. Our Associate Pastor, Kevin Casterline, has a daughter that is blessed in leading worship and stirs our hearts to hear the Word as our lead Pastor, Gail Craig, preaches. Each service is filled with the Anointed Presence and Power of the Lord. If you would like to check it out go to our live stream of the service (which starts at 10 am Mountain Time, every Sunday morning). After Sunday that week’s service is still available for watching up until the following Sunday: https://www.billingsfreedomchurch.org/live/ or https://www.youtube.com/c/BillingsFreedomChurch.

Well, that about catches you up on how I am. I hope this newsletter finds you in good health, “blessed, and highly favored”.

Love in Jesus,

Linda Lee