July - Sept. 2009
One Year Closer to Christ's Return

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July 2009

I'm grateful for the freedoms we enjoy, that was bought by those who have given their lives....limbs, to keep America safe. This month we celebrate the birth of our Nation .... built on Biblical principals...even though our educators say to us that it was not. However, there is much evidence to the contrary. Yes we are living in unstable times....difficult times....but God is not worried or surprised by anything that is happening. In His time, He will set things in order....we must not despair, for we know that when we come to God in humbled prayer, He hears and will respond to our need.

II Chronicles 7:14 - If my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal thier land.

When I first began to sing in San Jose, CA in 1968....I was the soloist for Pastor Kenny Foreman's TV program. The Minister of Music was Nancy Harmon. What a joy to be part of her choir....of course, if you have ever heard her....you can just imagine how exciting it must have been. Fourty-one years ago, Nancy left San Jose to travel full-time with a group of young people from our church and they traveled to churches for revivals (when have you heard that word lately? ). Nancy is a great preacher and the young people learn to hear from God through her Ministry. She recently celebrated her 41st Anniversary in Dallas. How wonderful it was that so many of the young folk who have traveled with her throughout the years came for that great weekend. There was a video made....I was asked to sing a song I sang in her choir in San Jose, "Walk on By Faith", and I loved it! May God continue to bless Nancy Harmon and keep her in His care. May she have many years on this earth to sing, play the keyboard and preach as she does.

Ms. Lillie with Nancy Harmon

Later in July, I was blessed to attend a family reunion in Fort Smith, AR. Actually I was born 20 miles down the road in the small town of Huntington. So happy I was able to go there....I got to see the house where I was born, population is now 688. When I was four years old, we moved to Fort Smith; my Dad and Mom, six girls and one boy. I saw the house where we lived there also.

Ms. Lillie with her brother Paul, and sisters Gladine and Nell

I was taken to see the "big grade school" I attended....but now it didn't seem so big . There I attended grades 1-6. My Dad died....so we moved to Seattle, WA for middle and high school. Everyone in Fort Smith with the name Knauls is a relative....and there are lots of them, as my Dad was the oldest of 10 children. How exciting to see all my cousins. There were over 100 of us together for three days, lots of talking .... food .... fellowship .... and on Sunday, we all attended the church where I grew up.

Ms. Lillie outside the church during her family reunion in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Such great memories, to sit and remember that my Godly values were established there....as I attended Sunday School, learned the Bible Stories, sang great songs and attended church "all the time" with my Mom....a great woman of God....I am grateful for my heritage.

Let me tell you about a ministry I have supported for many many years....I believe in it....and I am always excited when I am able to go minister there....it is Teen Challenge. This facility has young men who are in this God inspired program to be finally free from drugs. I was there this month, I am always so encouraged when I see them sitting paying so close attention to the message....and writing down all the scriptures I quote....that blesses me. Please keep those young men in your prayers as they commit their hearts and lives to God for a fresh start.

II Corinthians 5:21 - He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteosness of God in Him.

Aren't you glad that God is there to help us begin again? He promises that He will always be there for us. Are you in a battle and wondering "Where is God?"....well, He knows what you are facing and He will be by your side "Through it All." I have always loved that song since Andrae Crouch wrote it, in fact, I put it on my new CD (click here for information). I believe God will use it to assure you of His faithfulness to you.

August 2009

For many years, I have ministered in prisons such as San Quentin .... Soledad .... Corcoran. This month, I was able to go into Chino Women's Prison. It has always been a sad time for me when I'm there, to see those "mothers" separated from their children and families. But this time, God did something special for me. There were at least 400 in the service....when I arrived, there was wonderful praise and worship going on....I began to feel lifted in my spirit, then some testimonies began. Three "lifers" were conducting the service and were as happy as anyone I have seen on the "outside." There was an interpreted dance performed by a talented inmate and my spirit was lifted even higher. They seemed to enjoy my 30 minutes of singing .... standing .... clapping .... and swaying. I'm looking forward to returning soon....please help me pray for those precious ladies because God loves them so much and really does have a plan for their lives. It was wonderful serving Jesus there in that place.

Matthew 25:40 - The King will reply "Whatever you did for the least of one of these sisters of mine, you did for Me.

Another great opportunity for me was to minister at Christian Women's Connection in the State of Washington, the attendance was great and lots of ladies wore hats. You wonder why? Stonecroft has been suggesting different ways to reach younger ladies. One is to have a Saturday morning meeting ....young Moms can bring their children and leave them with a CWC sitter....enjoy the meeting and hear about God's Son, Jesus, who will give them hope. I am praying for creative ways to reach them.

I was able to spend time with my two sisters; they came to my CWC meeting. Afterward going to Marie Callendar's, sitting there for several hours having fun. Family is everything. I also wanted to celebrate the birthday of a friend....friends are important also. I reconnected with my friend, Gretchen, whom I have known since middle school (over 50 years ago), we shared some good time together.

Ms. Lillie with her sisters,
Loretta and Gladine

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I was invited to come to Vashon Island....it is a real island....you can only get there by ferry from Seattle. It was a wonderful weekend. Thanks to a classmate from Garfield (we graduated in 1956)....Bob and Alice invited me to come and stay in their lovely home....what a treat....a pleasant time for me.

Ms. Lillie with Alice & Bob Blomgren

Ms. Alice loves to pamper her guests with delicious food and fellowship. I had suggested that we have an old-fashion hymn sing on Sunday night. It was open to anyone who wanted to sing in the choir, and many came. I sent a CD of many of the Gaither Video songs. We sang them and folk loved it, because they get to hear "I'll Fly Away" .... "Power in The Blood" .... "When We All Get To Heaven".... and many more. If you would like to have me come to your Church or Senior Function, for one of these hymn-sings....you will not be disappointed. You may hear me sing these songs on my new CD, "Serving Up Sothern Gospel (click here)."

I am still traveling full-time and will be happy to come to a women's function or church service, just let me know.... and remember YOU CAN AFFORD ME. God is faithful to supply my needs, since I hung up on Ma Bell to go full-time. He uses friends to be a blessing to me as they pray and give. Thank you. Your gift is tax-deductible and it will be added to your account in Glory.

It is always joy to hear from you. Let's keep in touch....you may call and leave a message on my recorder if I am not home. If I am home, I always answer my phone and folk seem surprised....but I have no secretary....I do all of my own office work. God gives me all the strength I need.

Proverbs 31:25 - Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.

My closing word for you is one of encouragement; do not focus on your problems or circumstances, instead focus on God's Promises.

I Chronicles 20:15 - .... The battle is not yours....but God's.

My prayer for you is this: ...that out of His glorious riches, The Lord may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.....that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19).

Sept. 2009

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine ....The Old Rugged Cross....Victory in Jesus....Power in The Blood, these are the songs I love to sing and as I have discovered, so do many other folk my age.

Recently I presented a Hymn Sing at a Senior Center and what a blessing to look out and see them singing the songs they grew up with, but often can not hear them sung in the churches they attend. Those meetings are very special and wonderful times for them and me.

Psalms 133:1 - Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell to together in unity.

I've often said that if I was told I could have only one book and it could not be the Bible....I would choose a Hymn Book....just by reading the words .... I would learn theology....be encouraged....be lifted up....even enter into Praise and Worship. If you are a director or Pastor of a Senior Ministry and would like to have me come to present that type program, just let me know. You will not be disappointed.

Just a few months left in this year, 2009, it has been a good one for me and I am thankful to God. I have grown closer to God as I have meditated on His Word, spent time in prayer with Him and have surrendered to Him each and every day. What a busy month this has been, ministering at Christian Women's Connections, that great organization that reaches out to unsaved ladies who perhaps do not even know that they need Jesus, but if they are invited by a friend to a nice lunch, they are able to hear me or hundreds of other speakers at more than 3,000 meetings held monthly. They hear us give testimony of what God has done in our lives. Our prayer is that they realize something is missing....it is Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Savior....leave there a new lady. In October, I will be in Michigan....so I contacted the Corporate office asking if there was Christian Women's Connection Meeting near Niles, was told it was Elkhart, Indiana ....actually only 25 minutes away, I was picked up at the hotel.... whisked away to the meeting. A hundred and seventeen ladies greeted me; all but eight were wearing hats. It was a wonderful meeting. God touched hearts and lives. There were decisions made that day, which is the main focus.

John 3:17 - For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him, might be saved.

Another ministry I enjoy is when I get to speak and sing for Seniors, now that I are one. While in the San Jose area for one such meeting, I was also able to sing at a great church, Bethel, where my long time friend is the Minister of Music. Here is a good story....when Jonathan was only 15 years old....too young to even drive, I would drive over, pick him up....take him to play piano for me cause he was soooooooooooooo good. How wonderful to reconnect, see him all grown up and using the gift God gave him.

Jonathan Lugo, Ms Lillie,
and Pastor Allen

While in the area, I had other Senior meetings, also reconnecting with long-time friends, The Duncan's in Lodi. And another great Senior's Rally in Modesto at First Baptist Church, where they had decorated the stage area with hats (cause I almost always wear one).

Ms. Lillie and hats on stage

What a wonderful assignment God gave me 31 years ago to proclaim the Good News through Song, and trust Him to touch hearts and lives through those songs.

Until next time.

Happy to be His Handmaiden,

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