GOD'S GREATEST GIFT - By Wm Henry Cash, Jr - 1968

GOD'S GREATEST GIFT 

JOHN 3:16  

         Jesus was talking with Nicodemus.

  In John chapter 3: 1 - 21, this is recorded for us.  Jesus told Nicodemus that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16.

  1. FOR -   the greatest Purpose -  It is God's eternal purpose in Christ. 

       Ephesians 3:11." According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Jesus Christ our Lord." 

 2. GOD -  the greatest PERSON. None can be compared with Him.  

       Psalm 89:6 -8 Who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD?  who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints;  and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.  O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee?  or to thy faithfulness round about thee? 

      Isaiah 40: 18, 25,28. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him: ....To whom will ye liken me, or shall I be equal" saith the Holy One....Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD,  the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding..." 

       

 3. SO LOVED -  the greatest affection.  God loves us with the deepest love.  

       Ephesians 2:4  But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith He loved us," 

      Romans 5.8. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."              

4.  THE WORLD -   It includes everyone, the whole earth and all that dwell in it -   Acts 1:8 

But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."  

These words uttered by the Risen Lord Jesus to his disciples as he ascended into heaven from Mount Olives.  

5.   THAT HE GAVE -   

        He gave the greatest gift of all.    

     II Corinthians 9:15  "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." 

6.   HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON - 

      The greatest sacrifice.  The Father sent the Son.    I John 4:9,10   "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for sins."  

7.   THAT  WHOSOEVER - 

     The greatest opportunity.   In speaking to the woman at the well, in John 4.13,14  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."   

8.   BELIEVETH -  

       The greatest simplicity.   The offer is of salvation through simple faith.  

 Romans 10: 8 - 10  But what saith it?  The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:  that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."   

9.   IN HIM - 

       The greatest attraction.   Jesus said He would draw all people to Himself by His sacrifice on the cross.   

John 12:32 " And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

10.  SHOULD NOT PERISH -  

        The greatest deliverance.   

Acts 2.21  And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.              

11.  BUT  -  The greatest difference.

Sin brings death - but the Gospel brings life.  

Romans 6: 23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

12.   HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.  

       The greatest possession.     This is man's greatest possession - because without it, all other possessions wither and die.   \

   John 11: 25-26

 Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.   Believest thou this?"  

     Like the quietness of the Redwood Forest, and the light that must keep the trees growing, only by the Light of the world can a person be born into God's family.  

           John 3.16  was spoken by Jesus Himself to Nicodemus.   He is still speaking to us from the written Word.   

          You can say 

       "  FOR GOD SO LOVED           ________(put your  name in the verse) _ 

    THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT  _(put your  name in the verse) _

BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." 

                

               I would encourage you that God's Word is true, and that God is faithful.  He will never leave nor forsake you.  Life comes from trusting Him.   John 8.12    Jesus said that the words he spoke and how we responded to them is what will really make a difference in where we spend Eternity,

           I INVITE YOU TO ATTEND MY CHURCH IN BIRCH BAY WA. IF YOU EVER ARE IN THIS AREA.  
         LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH 

THE WAYS OF GOD by Wm. H. Cash, Jr. 1983

THE WAYS OF GOD by Wm. H. Cash, Jr. 1983

LITTLE CHURCH IN THE VALLEY 

HEMLOCK-STABLER, CARSON, WA. 

WM. HENRY CASH, JR. 1927 - 2012  

TEXT:  PSALM  103: 7 - 13   

    

  7.     He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. 

  8.      The LORD is merciful and gracious,  slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 

   9.      He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger  forever.

    10.    He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 

     11.     For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward the that fear him.

     12.     As far as the east is from the west,   so  far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 

     13.      Like as a father pitieth his children; so  the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

          GOD WANTS TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR US.  

        WE ARE TO FOLLOW THE WAYS OF THE LORD ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE PRINCIPLES IF WE WANT GOD TO BLESS US AND USE US FOR HIS HONOR AND GLORY...GOD HAS OFTEN GIVEN US A VISION TO DO SOMETHING GREAT.     

         DISCOURAGEMENT COMES ALONG AND OUR VISION DIES....VERY OFTEN DURING THE DEATH OF OUR VISION, WE ARE TEMPTED TO FOLLOW UNSCRIPTURAL METHODS.   

          WHEN WE FOLLOW THE WAYS OF THE LORD, WE CAN EXPECT HIM TO DO THE MIRACLE OF FULFILLING THE VISION THAT HE GIVES TO US.  

            ---------------------------------------------------------

    WE CAN EXPECT RESULTS 

 WHEN WE FOLLOW GOD'S WAYS

            ---------------------------------------------------------

 LET US CONSIDER SOME EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE OF THIS TRUTH.   

                   ABRAHAM living in UR of the Chaldees 

                 As a little boy growing up, he was familiar with the sacrifices to the moon god there in Ur.    In Genesis 12: 1- 3 we find God giving him a  VISION.    

                          

           

GENESIS 12: 1 - 3 

1. Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house unto a land that I will shew thee:

      2. And I will make of thee a great nationm and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

      3. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.   

       

So Abraham left Ur. 

He and his wife and nephew Lot.

He went out not knowing WHERE HE WAS HEADED.

GOD PROMISED.

HE BELIEVED GOD.

In all of what he did, Abram knew God had promised him.

The death of his vision was very much upon 

his heart.

He and Lot have parted ways now, and 

Abram still continues, believing that it all

will belong to him.  

But where ? is a son ? 

His servant Eliezar is to inherit his estate if he has no son.

God tells him to look to heaven.

Genesis 15. 5   "Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, 

 If thou be able to number them; and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.  v.6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.  

                                    D E A T H  OF  THE  VISION

                                               CONTINUES 

GENESIS 16:1 

      His wife is getting older.   She talks him into doing what "custom" is in that land at that time - to let a son be born by her maiden  Hagar.   

Now Ishmael, who has been indeed named by God,

but who is NOT the son of the promise,

is growing up. 

   GOD COMES TO HIM AGAIN.

Genesis 17th chapter

God changes Abram's name to Abraham.

"a father of many nations have I made thee." 17.6

[at 90 YEARS OLD, God changes Abram's name.]

He gives Abraham the command to circumcise himself, Ishmael, and all his servants born in his household, and all that were bought.

Then God tells him Sarai  is to have her name changed also, 

for she shall have a son.

v. 15,16.

"And God said unto Abraham, As for Sa'rai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sa'rai, but Sa'rah shall her name be.  And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her."

                                              v. 21 

"But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sa'rah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year."   

GOD HAS A NEED FOR A DEATH OF A VISION SO THAT HE CAN ILLUSTRATE HIS WAYS TO US.  

    DEATH OF A VISION MEANS HOPE - it gives birth to the expectation for GOD to work out His promised will when it seems humanly impossible.     

           TO CONSIDER  

            Satan's building program during the DEATH OF A VISION IS   TO TEMPT US TO WORK IN THE ENERGY OF THE FLESH TO DO IT OUR WAY, NOT GOD'S WAY.   II COR.   11:14    "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."  

IN THE CASE OF ABRAM AND SARAH, HAGAR AND THE BIRTH OF ISHMA'EL AS NOT GOD'S PROMISED SON. It is quite tempting "to consider" something WE CAN DO - but it only results in added frustration and difficulties.   

            Supernatural Fulfillment of the original vision - can come only by God's doing - not ours.     In Abraham and Sarah's life still more occured.

            The LORD God kept his promise.   Before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, he came to Abraham, and specifically promised AGAIN that "I will return unto thee according to the time of life, and, lo, Sa'rah shall have a son."
Gen. 18.v. 10. 
            When Sarah (in the tent) laughed -  God said "Is anything too hard for the LORD?  At the time appointed I will return to thee, according to the time of life, and Sa'rah shall have a son."   Gen. 18.v. 14.
           GOD'S LOVE IS REVEALED TO US IN THE FOIBLES OF OUR FALTERING FAITH.    The LORD miraculously closed all the wombs of the household of King Abimelech  of Ge'rar - and so when they came to the "appointed time"  God visited Sa'rah and she conceived.    When he was born, Sa'rah named him Isaac  ('Itzak)  which means "laughter"   for God, she said, "has made me to laugh, and everyone that hears will laugh with me."  Gen. 21:6.

        JOSEPH IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A VISION GIVEN.
  Joseph was born to Rachel who "was barren" also.    His brother Benjamin and Joseph were particularly nurtured by Jacob when Rachel died at Benjamin's birth.    Joseph and his brother were responsible to their father, not to anyone else.
       Genesis  37.5   and  Genesis 37.9   Two dreams -  two indications that HE WOULD SOMEDAY RULE HIS FAMILY WELL....
         His dreams given to him by God, put hope in his heart.  His brothers were jealous when their father showed such favor to Joseph.   And jealous of the dream.   No, they did not want him to rule over them.
        The death of the dream was signified by his being sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers.    In all the time that he was growing up away from his father, he stayed true to the HOPE THAT GOD HAD GIVEN HIM and kept his ways right before the Lord.   
        When he was tempted by Potiphar's wife, he stayed true to God.   He could have yielded, but did not.   When put in prison, he stayed true to God.   He could have yielded to self-pity and resentment, but he did not.   Genesis 39.v.21  "and the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison" 
         In Chapters 39 - 41 of Genesis God gives Joseph an opportunity to help his father, determine if his brothers are serious in their commitment to their father, and to God, and miraculously puts Joseph in a position to do it. 
         Chapters 42 - 50 of Genesis show that God favored him because he was willing to work through the HOPE OF THE VISION  with the DEATH OF THE VISION and kept his ways right before the LORD, and was able to save his family because of it. 
        Joseph himself states "God meant it unto good" and that everything was such that God used the evil intended against him for all their good.   

         THE LAST EXAMPLE I GIVE TO YOU IS OF THE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD JESUS.
          A. The VISION of establishing and being a part of and bringing in the Kingdom of God.
           B.  The DEATH OF THAT VISION  .
                 1. Jesus died. John chapter 19. Matt. 26-27, Luke 22,23 and Mark  14,15. 
                 2. They returned to their old business.  John 21.       
                 3.  They were severely persecuted. 

          C. TEMPTATION of S E L F - E F F O R T.

                 1.  They misunderstood the mission of Jesus to go by the way of the cross. 

                 2.    In the TRANSFIGURATION in which he was with Moses and Elijah - talking over things - they were looking for the KINGDOM, even though he told them 4 separate occasions of the Cross and what would happen.  He also told them of His resurrection.    Yet their focus was on THE VISION.  In the TRIUMPHANT ENTRY - FULFILLING SCRIPTURE - their focus still was on the Kingdom.   Jesus answered their questions in the Olivet Discourse, and then promptly goes to the matter of the PASSOVER and that he is going to the CROSS.   Matthew 26.2.    

                3.  Seeking GREATNESS in the Kingdom, their focus still was not on the CROSS.   Jesus again and again pointed this out to them.   Mark 10.44,45  Jesus points out to them that whosoever shall be the chiefest, must be servant of all, and that   "even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."  

 GOD MIRACULOUSLY INTERVENES TO BRING

              ABOUT THE VISION FULFILLED.  

         

   THE LORD JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD,
AS HE SAID.
              HE MIRACULOUSLY
USED HIS DISCIPLES FOR THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL BY THE GIVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS HE PROMISED.
 HIS PROMISE TO RETURN FOR THEM
STANDS INTACT   John 14.1 - 3.
     HIS KINGDOM WILL BE SET UP WHEN HE COMES AFTER THE TRIBULATION TO RULE
AND REIGN FOR 1000 YEARS.
                          

              TEXT:  PSALM  103: 7 - 13   

    

     He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. 

    The LORD is merciful and gracious,  slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 

    He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger  forever.

     He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 

     For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward the that fear him.

    As far as the east is from the west,   so  far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 

     Like as a father pitieth his children; so  the LORD pitieth them that fear him

GOD WANTS TO DO GREAT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE, AND IN MINE.   WE MUST SEE THE VISION, AND LET HIM DO IT IN HIS OWN WAY IN OUR LIFE. 

                  JOHN 3: 16   FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.  

                 Acts 2.21  AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS SHALL BE SAVED.   

                   

biblebuffjournal99-CHRIST OUR CORNERSTONE-Bible KJV God's Holy Word

CHRIST - OUR CORNERSTONE 

by   Wm. Henry Cash, Jr.  1927 - 2012 

  WHEN A BUILDING IS BUILT, OFTEN "A CORNERSTONE" 

IS MEMORIALIZED WITH A SPECIAL CEREMONY TO DEDICATE THAT BUILDING.

WE ARE GOD'S BUILDING - AND JESUS CHRIST IS THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.
BELIEVERS IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO HAVE RECEIVED HIM AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR,  THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER, ARE BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE.  

   JESUS CHRIST IS OUR CORNERSTONE.   

    First:  He is the CHIEF CORNERSTONE.  

Matthew 21: 42 - 44   

Jesus said unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, "The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the LORD'S doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes."  Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on the stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."   

Luke 20. 17 - 18 also refers to this.

Psalm 118: v. 22 - 23  

The stone which the builders rejected is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the LORD'S doing: it is marvelous in our eyes.

Isaiah 53: v. 12   

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

SECOND - THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR FOUNDATION. 

I CORINTHIANS 3: 9 - 11 "FOR WE ARE LABORERS TOGETHER WITH GOD: YE ARE GOD'S HUSBANDRY, YE ARE GOD'S BUILDING, ACCORDING TO THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN UNTO ME, AS A WISE MASTER-BUILDER, I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION, AND ANOTHER BUILDETH THEREON, BUT LET EVERY MAN TAKE HEED HOW HE BUILDETH THEREUPON,  FOR OTHER FOUNDATION CAN NO MAN LAY THAT IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST."  1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 - 11.

We are God's building.

We are to be wise builders so that others can build 

upon our work.

The work must be built upon the ONLY FOUNDATION 

WHICH IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST.   

                   

THIRD - OUR LIVES ARE TO BE BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION - JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.

I CORINTHIANS 3: 12 - 15  NOW IF ANY MAN BUILD UPON THIS FOUNDATION GOLD, SILVER, PRECIOUS STONES, WOOD, HAY, STUBBLE; EVERY MAN'S WORK SHALL BE MADE MANIFEST: FOR THE DAY SHALL DECLARE IT, BECAUSE IT SHALL BE REVEALED BY FIRE; AND THE FIRE SHALL TRY EVERY MAN'S WORK OF WHAT SORT IT IS.     IF ANY MAN'S WORK ABIDE WHICH HE HATH BUILT THEREUPON, HE SHALL RECEIVE A REWARD. IF ANY MAN'S WORK SHALL BE BURNED, HE SHALL SUFFER LOSS: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVE; YET SO AS BY FIRE. 

*We must be careful to use the right materials.
*Our work shall be tested, tried by fire.
*The work that abides shall be rewarded.
*The work that is burned - we shall suffer loss - 
but our soul shall be saved.
*The building must be fitly joined together.  

FOURTH - WE ARE LIVING STONES LAID ON THE FOUNDATION STONE - THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.   

I PETER 2: 1 - 10  

WHEREFORE LAYING ASIDE ALL MALICE, AND ALL GUILE, AND HYPOCRISIES, AND ENVIES, AND EVIL SPEAKINGS, AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY; IF SO BE, YE HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS.

TO WHOM COMING, AS UNTO A LIVING STONE, DISALLOWED INDEED OF MEN, BUT CHOSEN OF GOD, AND PRECIOUS, YE ALSO, AS LIVELY STONES, ARE BUILT UP AN SPIRITUAL HOUSE, AN HOLY PRIESTHOOD, TO OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD BY JESUS CHRIST.  WHEREFORE ALSO IT IS CONTAINED IN THE SCRIPTURE, BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNER STONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE CONFOUNDED. UNTO YOU THEREFORE THAT BELIEVE, HE IS PRECIOUS: BUT UNTO THEM WHICH BE DISOBEDIENT, THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS DISALLOWED, THE SAME IS MADE HEAD OF THE CORNER.   AND A STONE OF STUMBLING, AND A ROCK OF OFFENCE, EVEN TO THEM WHICH STUMBLE AT THE WORD, BEING DISOBEDIENT: WHEREUNTO ALSO THEY WERE APPOINTED.  BUT YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, AN ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, AN HOLY NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE; THAT YE SHOULD SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT, WHICH IN TIME PAST WERE NOT A PEOPLE, BUT ARE NOW THE PEOPLE OF GOD; WHICH HAD NOT OBTAINED MERCY, BUT NOW HAVE OBTAINED MERCY.

     Christ was rejected , so that we can become a living stone.

  As LIVING STONES 'LIVELY STONES' 

We build a spiritual house.

THIS BUILDING IS BASED UPON THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.

TO THE ONE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE

HE IS A STUMBLING STONE. 

Luke 20.18    

Romans 9.32 - 33  

"  Wherefore ?  Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.  For they stumbled on that stumbling stone; as it is written Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed."  

We are the children of the Living God

 by faith in Christ Jesus.  

Christ is the Chief Cornerstone.

We must build our lives on this foundation.

We become HIS LIVING STONES.  

GALATIANS 3.26

FOR YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD 

BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.

JOHN 1.29

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD 

WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.

biblebuffjournal99-REMEMBERING MY MOTHER

                                       Walking by Faith - I Keep Climbing

REMEMBERING 

      Now that I was born.   June 9, 1933.  

  I was here.

I can remember being held 

in 

Mother's arms.

A faint 

long ago warmth.

Whispers of love.

Sensing her love for me.

Just cozy. 

Cuddled.

A rim of ribbon on a blanket in my fingers,

soft and silky.

Then, taken into another room.

A big room.

Coldness.

Bright lights.

Hard to sleep.

Where ? was Mother? 

Then they brought me to her again.

I remember nestling on her breast.

They gave her a bottle, and she fed me.

They had brought me in from a 

crib 

in a big cold room  

to her room,

where now I was cozy and warm

beside her.

I wanted to stay with her.

She talked to me like I understood

right from the start.

Mother knew how to hold babies.  She had helped her Mother with four other sisters.  Here she is with Esther Priscilla.   In the other photo, here is Daddy with Mother.  I was probably 7 days old.   They are home at  Zylonite in Adams MA where Grandmother and Grandfather lived. 

N

ON GOING HOME  1933  

I  remember Mother holding me while Grampa was driving the car.

I remember Mother bringing me into the house at Adams and setting me 

in bed.   

She talked to me each night.  I slept with her on her right side.

Then Daddy came home.

She fixed a dresser drawer for me 

It was now my bed. 

While I lay in it, I was insecure until I could S E E  

H E R  F A C E.   

She was on the left side of Daddy.  I was 

on the right with my dresser drawer sitting on 

two chairs facing each other.  I had to strain

to see Mother. 

         THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT IT.     I  HEARD MOTHER'S REASONING,  " BUT, HARRY, SHE IS TO SLEEP WITH ME."   "NO, VIDA, SHE IS NOT TO SLEEP WITH US.   SHE WILL GET USED TO IT.   I DO NOT LIKE THAT."   HE WAS VERY FIRM.

           I felt the pull of her heart toward me.

           I felt the love she had for me.   Father was distant.  He 

simply had not the ability in himself to "receive me"  just yet.  

I SOMEHOW KNEW that he was someone who NEEDED LOVE 

AND THAT HE HAD A HARD TIME KNOWING HOW TO LOVE.

             I wanted to love him.   It will take time, but I will.  

              Mommy would love me.     I had no doubts.  

I FINALLY FELL ASLEEP -  

THINKING ABOUT THE SWEET MOMMY I HAD.  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              This was my Grandmother about the time I was born in 1933.    The house is on Apremont Street -[ later its name was changed ]    The house is still there.    I went back to see it with my husband Henry in 1987.    

                             

                             Mother Was A Lady   Part II   

                       Psalm 90.12  So teach us to number our days 

           that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom  

                        Psalm 70: 6  By Thee have I been holden 

from the womb;  thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall continually be of Thee." 

    New England was briskly entering into the 30's.    The depression was still upon most of the country.   In the New England town of Adams, MA  Vida May's family was doing well.     The girls - five of them now - Mother the oldest - were somewhat unhappy with the demands of "keeping up appearances"  and felt there was more to life than that.   At least, Mother so thought.    

           It was during her 15th year that Harry came into the picture.

He showed up in the school.    He could sing.   He talked.  He was indeed, a talker.    She did not try to do anything to lead him on, she would simply express her opinion.    He liked that.   It was because "she was a LADY"  AND did not throw herself at the boys that the boys would tease her, and make comments about her being such a ridiculous prude to be so uppity.    Exactly what Forrest had seen in his young daughter - he knew what the men were like in the mill, and he wanted better for her.   Now here the boys were seeing her in the high school, and they could not figure out how a girl would want to keep herself pure for any reason.  They could not figure at all about that.  

                 She saw a lot of him that year.    He indeed tried to make her notice him.    There was a DOUBLE STANDARD in those days of the early 1900's.

             What was that ?   Well, you see,  THE BOYS COULD DO NO WRONG.   IT WAS OK FOR THEM TO SLEEP AROUND.

IT WAS ALRIGHT FOR THEM - IT WAS THE "MAN" THING TO DO.    BUT FOR THE GIRLS ?   THAT WAS A DIFFICULT THING - They were expected to be nice to the boys.   They were expected to NOT  be uppity.   They were expected to BE THE NICE AND PRETTY HOSTESS.   They were EXPECTED to be good to the fellows.   

              BUT MOTHER DID NOT WANT THAT.  SHE DID NOT WANT TO GIVE IN TO A BOY , AND SHE KNEW HER MOTHER AND FATHER LOVED EACH OTHER , AND SHE WANTED THE SAME THING FOR HERSELF.   SO SHE STOOD HER GROUND.

IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, SHE WAS NOT GOING TO SLEEP WITH ANYONE, NOR GIVE IN TO THEM, SHE WAS NOT GOING TO RUN AROUND LIKE THAT.   SHE WAS A LADY.

              Her 16th Birthday came and went.   In the late summer of 1932, Forrest and Lillias sent her to the Girl Scout Camp.   It was a big event.    And the boys decided to take action.    THE BOYS invaded the camp and they would come to the tents where the girls were, and try to persuade the girls to go in the fields with them, or into the woods with them.   Mother refused.   She refused more than once.    Harry was among them.   She refused him too.   

             Harry had begun to be enamored with her, insistent, he finally caught her one afternoon by surprise, when she was not aware of him being there.    He took her, and laid with her against her express will.      

               What ? was she to do ?    Will anyone believe me?  

               She could not tell anyone.   

                WHAT A HORRIBLE WEEK THAT WAS FOR MY MOTHER.   SHE SAID THAT AT THE CAMP, THEY HAD A SWIMMING LESSON IN WHICH THE GIRLS HAD TO GO IN THE WATER  FULLY DRESSED IN THEIR BLOOMER CLOTHES   -  THEY WERE TO SWIM  WITH THOSE CLOTHES ON -   she was so s c a r e d  THAT SHE NEVER EVER WENT swimming after that.   AND ALL THE TIME THAT SHE FINISHED THAT WEEK AT CAMP - SHE DID NOT TELL ANYONE WAS THAT HARRY HAD ACCOSTED HER, AND NOW SHE WAS DETERMINED "IF I HAVE A BABY, I AM GOING TO KEEP IT." 

                 They talk a lot about Mothers and Babies and what do little babies know ? in the womb?  

                 I  believe  FULLY that I knew when Mother was coping with that horrible week at camp -   I believe I  FULLY UNDERSTOOD her determination to  KEEP THIS BABY.   

                    I FELT HER LOVE FOR ME.  

    She went home from the Girl Scout Camp.

Time went on.    And then she had to tell her mother who then told her Father.   Both Harry and her Father wanted her to have an abortion.    She was  TOO YOUNG  to have a baby.    IT WOULD BE A DISGRACE.  

                "YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS BABY.  I AM A PERSON OF WORTH, AND THIS BABY IS A PERSON, AND I WANT IT TO BE BORN, MOTHER DECLARED"   

Mother never told me what Lillias said,  she only told me what Harry and Grandfather said.    As a baby in the womb I was coming.  I WAS ON THE WAY.   1933 AND I WAS BEING BORN IN THE SAME YEAR HITLER CAME TO POWER IN GERMANY.     MY MOTHER KNEW THAT SHE WANTED THIS BABY TO LIVE.   AND MIRACLE OF MIRACLES I DID.      I KEPT COMING.     I WAS ON THE WAY.    I REMEMBER MOTHER'S VOICE - IT HAD A COMFORTING WELCOMING AIR TO IT, AND I KNEW SHE LOVED ME.    I WAS GOING TO COME.   I WOULD BE BORN.

           ONE NIGHT I REMEMBER MOTHER WAS AT HER MOTHER'S HOUSE, LISTENING TO THE RADIO ...HITLER'S VOICE CAME SPOUTING OUT ...AND I COULD HEAR THE VOICE AND I FELT THE HORROR AND FEAR OF MY MOTHER AT HIS WORDS.   AND MY OWN RESPONSE TO HIS VOICE.    IT WAS FEARSOME.

        

   I am not sure of when Grandfather and the family left Shelburne Falls, MA but here is the Bridge of Flowers as it looked back in those days by the Mill.      

                WALKING OVER THE BRIDGE WITH HARRY, MY FATHER, MOTHER WAS SPEAKING TO HIM.   YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS, THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOR BABY'S BIRTH?   HARRY SAID "AUNT SALLY WANTS ME TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, SO I HAVE TO BE GONE FOR THAT."    A SILENCE .... THEN ... "WHEN WILL WE GET MARRIED?   RIGHT AFTER I GRADUATE, VIDA.   

             SO MOTHER SETTLED AND WAITED.  

         

here is my Mother on the right 

Esther on the left,

and me in the middle.

I must have been 7 months old,

for I am sitting pretty good,

It would have been Spring of 1934.

MOTHER WAS A LADY.

SHE LOVED ME. 

SHE TAUGHT ME 

WHAT UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WAS ALL ABOUT.   

         

                 watch for part III of  MOTHER WAS A LADY

           

                                               

   HERE IS THE ZYLONITE HOUSE -   MOTHER IS ON THE PORCH WITH A COUPLE OF OTHERS.      I WOULD STAY WITH GRANDMOTHER A LOT IN THIS HOUSE THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF MY LIFE.   GRANDFATHER BUILT IT HIMSELF, AND IT EXHUDED INTO MY LIFE MUCH OF THE STRENGTH AND CHARACTER FORREST AND LILLIAS INSTILLED IN THEIR DAUGHTER, MY MOTHER.     I TREASURE MY MOTHER.  

                                                          

biblebuffjournal99 -THE CARPENTERS MOTHER KNEW

                                             

THE CARPENTERS MOTHER KNEW

                                                            by June Estelle Cash   

Mother did not know that the reputation of the mill was such that her father resolved not to see his daughter "have to work" in the mill.  

Mother did know that her parents laid such store in her that they took great pains to make sure she knew how to be "good."  

Teaching her how to read and write, her mother spent much time instructing her.   When she was growing up, the family often went to visit the Carpenters in Cheshire, MA  and also to York Beach, Maine for clamming on the beach.  Her mother's parents had the York beach place as a "getaway" for everyone.  I am not sure if it was the only place they had, but I do know that when they first started out it was in Eastham, on Cape Cod itself.   York Beach Maine is on the coast, and is close to Massachusetts.

Bampy [Bahm-py] and Mamie [Mam - mie]

loved to play croquet, and "loved" each other

as best friends.    

York Beach Maine   

The cove that their home was on was in a row 

with about ten other relatives and friends who

all knew each other.    These homes today are still in York Beach, and known as the Rundlett cottages.   

Rundlett cottages one link to York Beach

           Here is my mother with her then two sisters 

Althea in back, and Esther by her side.  Notice the porch as a distinctive point to remember.  I visited this home in 1987 and sat on the porch overlooking the harbor there, and my feelings were so overwhelming.  God has been a part of my life ever since I asked Jesus to wash my sins away and make me clean.  Christ has led me in my life  from a lost sinner who needed a Savior, to a woman who knew and understood the Lord Jesus Christ to be her very source of strength in her life.  When my mother was little, people went to Church but it was not something Mother's family did much of.   Bampy and Mamie however did attend church.   She knew their faith was strong.  She longed for that faith.  

        When the little sisters came on the scene, Mother was expected to help care for the little ones.    The oldest, was expected to do that.   People had a funny attitude to a redhead, though.   They automatically assumed that a redhead would be a "problem" . . . 

She took it in her stride, and just decided, that if Bampy was a redhead, and her Mother was a redhead, then she too could be as good as they were.    She decided that she would be her "self" as best as she could be, not anyone else, just her own self.  She would make her impact on this world of hers.

          As I reflect on my mother, I saw in her the strength of a woman who knew her mind, and would follow through on things if she believed them strongly enough about them.    Forrest and Lillias were the very same way.    They were strong minded people and knew what they wanted.    They knew how they wanted it, and how to do it.    They taught Vida May to do the same.   The individuality of their lives spun an intricate web of hopes and dreams into Vida May's life.    She wanted to live and learn and to be and to do.   Her mother Lillias May (Brewer) before she married Forrest had been a teacher in a Primary School, having gone to college.   Forrest - although well self-educated - had only gone to 5th grade in school due to the fact that his father - Vida's grandfather - was a farmer.   As the only son that was left at home, he had to help on the farm.  He taught himself much with that 5th grade education ,  about electricity, about all the inventions that were being created, and he read extensively.   He was an electrician with the Mill, and taught Mother how to keep the books.  When she got to be 11, he told her that most people have the oldest son to do the books.  He had no sons, so he told her "I want to have you do my books"  So she learned the extra-ordinary task of doing book-keeping, accounts payable, received, and spent, as well as recording his stamp collection.       

   

                        Here is Forrest with his father on the farm. They did everything to make things, and everything they produced was traded in the community.    His father cut wood out of the forests there to deliver to neighbors.  At that time the only requirement was to make a road to get in the woods to do it.  They had cows with the milk they produced, maple syrup from the trees to sell after they processed it, they picked berries from the woods to make preserves and jellies and pies, and yes, they trade everywhere.   The enterprising Carpenters had sufficiency to do this, with a reputation of being well thought of, and having a good business sense.   They had a milk delivery truck which Forrest and his brother Lester took on regular rounds.    Vida May was alert to the fact that her mother and father were used to having lots of people in their life, and they would often gather for a meal, and songs, with popcorn and the men usually drank.      Forrest smoked a pie.   Lillias did once in a while to take a smoke, but he did not like her to, so she did not smoke very often.    

           When relatives gathered, or if someone was left to babysit the girls when they were younger, Mother did not like it if a man relative made passes at her.  She would report them to her parents.  And that made her a target as a "troublemaker."  You are imagining things, dear, they would say.    The opinion of the relatives was that she's "a redhead"  and that seemed to settle it.   Somehow it did not make sense to Vida.   She saw her Mother keep her distance from other men.   She saw how devoted her Mother was to Forrest. 

And she wanted to keep herself for the right person.

            So now here was Forest teaching her the books.   I believe that my mother's father saw that she would do well in keeping the books.   He saw that she needed to have a reason to not work in the Mills as he saw the working conditions of women in that day and age were not good.   She quickly learned, and did it well.   He was hopeful that she might have a better future than just a mill worker   Quite often the women ended up being married to men who had no education and did not do well at all.

               

                 This had been the Carpenter Farm where my mother's father grew up.    This is a photo I took in 1987 when I visited the home and stood outside.       There are no woods left now.   The trees are all gone -   a few left for shade, but the house is there in a wide swath of land.     I have the diaries of my great grandmother and great grandfather   who did all that farming in the Berkshires. 
               My grandfather found a job closer to the area where he grew up, and there he stayed. He did not move out of Adams Massachusetts until he left to go to California many years later

       

                       Here was the home that Forrest and Lillias lived in on Creamery Avenue in Adams MA.     In later years, there was a big Dairy built and so they discontinued delivering milk, just took it to the Creamery.      

                             In Shelburne Falls,  New England was briskly entering into the 30's.    The depression was still upon most of the country, but in the New England town, Vida May's family was doing well.    The girls were quite unhappy with the idea that they "had to keep up appearances"  and felt that there was more to life than that.   

                                   AS I LOOK BACK AT MOTHER'S LIFE, I SEE HOW GOD PREPARED FOR ME TO HAVE A "BEST FRIEND" FOR ME IN MY MOTHER, AND THAT GOD WOULD ALSO GIVE ME THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, MY DEAR HUSBAND WM. HENRY CASH, JR.    BEFORE ALL THAT HAPPENED HOWEVER, GOD HAD TO PREPARE MY CIRCUMSTANCES.

                                 

      

                  This was my grandmother as a young woman.   I believe this is in York Beach, Maine, and may have been even on the day she got married.   1914.     

   

                             

                          THESE CLOUDS SPEAK TO ME 

OF THE DEVOTION OF MY GRANDPARENTS TO EACH OTHER

                                 IT WAS A LOVE GIVEN BY GOD FOR THEM 

                                  I SAW THAT LOVE EXPRESSED EVEN THOUGH

                                 IT WAS NOT "DONE" TO CARESS OR SHOW AFFECTION

                                 IN PUBLIC.   I FELT THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.

                                FURTHERMORE, I KNEW THAT THEY LOVED MY MOTHER 

                                 AND THAT THEY LOVED ME.   NEVER EVER DID I HEAR 

                                CRITICISM OF HER, OR OF ME, OR OF MY FATHER.   NEVER

                               A WORD OF CHIDING.    NEVER A WORD OF ANTAGONISM.

            

                               

AS A LITTLE FIVE YEAR OLD 

I KNEW MY MOTHER LOVED ME.

I KNEW MY GRAND PARENTS LOVED EACH OTHER.

SOMEHOW, I BELIEVED

GOD WOULD SHOW ME WHO HE WAS, 

AND THAT SOMEDAY, I WOULD FIND A SPECIAL MANWHO WOULD BE MY FRIEND TOO.
MY NEXT BLOG WILL BE ABOUTHOW MY MOTHER AND FATHER MET  

AND HOW I CAME INTO THIS FAMILY.  

                                         

1932  was the year they met.

.....just like the clouds here  we see clouds today and JESUS IS COMING IN THE CLOUDS TO TAKE US HOME TO BE WITH HIM.

ARE YOU READY?

HE WANTS US TO KNOW HIM

TO LOVE HIM

TO BE READY FOR HIM

TO BE LOOKING FOR HIM.

JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN.

JESUS SAID "I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP" 

John 10