Exciting Book Launch Giveaway!

Just wanted to share this exciting book launch and giveaway going on right now, January 15-17!  

I am a contributing author with my Chapter 13: "The Generosity of Adoption" in the book, 

"21 Stories of Generosity: Real Stories to Inspire a Full Life (A Life of Generosity)." 

Right now you can get both the eBook and AudioBook version for just $0.99.  

Plus, you can enter to win over $50.00 worth of Christian AudioBooks. Check it out here:

http://www.bodyandsoulpublishing.com/21-stories-generosity-0-99-book-launch-special-giveaway/

Generosity can come in many forms including time, money, attention, service, or simply a kind word or compliment. Ultimately, the motive behind it is what's truly important.

In this book you will read 21 real stories of generosity from ordinary, everyday people like yourself. Some of the stories focus on being on the giving side while other stories revolve around being the recipient.

Ultimately, we hope and pray that God uses these stories to inspire and encourage you to be more generous with your time, treasure and talent. That by reading this book, you might find yourself drawing closer to Jesus, the Author and Orchestrator of generosity.

Don't miss this great opportunity! Join us today in this journey of living a life of generosity!

What are some stories of generosity in your life?

21 Stories of Generosity Ranked #1 for Stewardship!

How Exciting! 21 Stories of Generosity: Real Stories to Inspire a Full Life (A Life of Generosity) with my story as "Chapter 13--The Generosity of Adoption" is currently ranked #1 for Stewardship!

I am so honored to be one of the contributing authors in this wonderful book, available as a paperback, Audible audiobook, and a Kindle Edition at this link, with the table of contents featured on the publisher's website at this link.

Contributing authors include:  CJ Hitz, Darlene Shortridge, Laura J. Marshall, Krystal Kuehn, Carol Freed, Carol Round, Joy DeKok, Victoria Pitts Caine, Ruth O'Neil, Lisa Belcastro, Graham Roberts, Marilynn Dawson, Brenda McGraw, Beth Willis Miller, Gerald Bergeron, Brad Francis, Charles W. Page, Ann Musico, Corine Hyman, Marriott Cole, Suzanne Doyle-Ingram, Debbie Rivers

Do you have a desire to be a tool in God's hands to bless others? Generosity is a powerful word. Webster's Dictionary defines it as "the quality of being kind, understanding, and not selfish; the quality of being generous; especially: willingness to give money and other valuable things to others."

Generosity can come in many forms including time, money, attention, service, or simply a kind word or compliment. Ultimately, the motive behind it is what's truly important. In this book you will read 21 real stories of generosity from ordinary, everyday people like yourself. Some of the stories focus on being on the giving side while other stories revolve around being the recipient.

Ultimately, we hope and pray that God uses these stories to inspire and encourage you to be more generous with your time, treasure and talent. That by reading this book, you might find yourself drawing closer to Jesus, the Author and Orchestrator of generosity. Join us in this journey of living a life of generosity!

In what ways have you experienced generosity in your life?

WOW! 21 Stories of Generosity Contributing Author!

I am so honored to be one of the contributing authors in this new book, "21 Stories of Generosity: Real Stories to Inspire a Full Life (A Life of Generosity)" available as a paperback and a Kindle Edition at this link.

My story is "Chapter 13--The Generosity of Adoption"...the table of contents is featured on the publisher's website at this link.

Contributing authors include:  CJ Hitz, Darlene Shortridge, Laura J. Marshall, Krystal Kuehn, Carol Freed, Carol Round, Joy DeKok, Victoria Pitts Caine, Ruth O'Neil, Lisa Belcastro, Graham Roberts, Marilynn Dawson, Brenda McGraw, Beth Willis Miller, Gerald Bergeron, Brad Francis, Charles W. Page, Ann Musico, Corine Hyman, Marriott Cole, Suzanne Doyle-Ingram, Debbie Rivers

Stories of Generosity

Are you living a life of generosity? Do you have a desire to be a tool in God's hands to bless others?

Generosity is a powerful word.

Webster's Dictionary defines it as "the quality of being kind, understanding, and not selfish; the quality of being generous; especially: willingness to give money and other valuable things to others."

Generosity can come in many forms including time, money, attention, service, or simply a kind word or compliment. Ultimately, the motive behind it is what's truly important.

In this book you will read 21 real stories of generosity from ordinary, everyday people like yourself. Some of the stories focus on being on the giving side while other stories revolve around being the recipient.

Ultimately, we hope and pray that God uses these stories to inspire and encourage you to be more generous with your time, treasure and talent. That by reading this book, you might find yourself drawing closer to Jesus, the Author and Orchestrator of generosity.

Join us in this journey of living a life of generosity!

How about you? What is your story of generosity in your life?

we have the past to look forward to

“We cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see, but all is well that’s done by Thee.” –William Lister (1867)
"All your sins were future when Jesus died."
"All that will be is not now yet."
"Faith is being able to visualize as true and real already what God is yet to do."
"Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees."

The Lord Jesus Christ has used a simple timeline document to help me gain a wide-angle view of life…a little glimpse of what it will be like when we step out of time and into eternity and see the panorama of the past, the present, and the future all-at-once…

Beginning at the beginning…

One way of doing this is begin to document a timeline of your life. I have shared the first 10 years of my life timeline in the photo on this blog. You can do it too. Take a look at your life in 10 year segments, asking God to reveal to you all the spiritual mile markers in your life…broken places, hurts, disappointments, accomplishments, and joyful times…to help you see that God had been there all along…His name is Emmanuel—God with us…His grace is sufficient. 

To accomplish this task, I discovered a very helpful tool for a “Timeline Template” through Microsoft. It’s free, and it’s very easy to use, the text boxes expand to whatever size you need, and the arrows on the boxes can be moved to any location on the timeline.  You can duplicate the timeline, and save as a new page for each decade of your life. The link for this “Timeline Template” really helped me to get my thoughts on paper, and God has used it to heal me in so many ways…http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/timeline-TC001016265.aspx

The Hebrew concept of time is like a person rowing a boat. We see where we have been, we back into the future. I can clearly see that God has been there with me all along. I am not stuck in the past, I am rowing into the future, moving forward, proactive, with my focus, my mindset, on God, who is sovereign. He sees the past, the present, and the future all-at-once. 

Morning after morning in my quiet time, I bring myself back to the Cross of Christ…as I bow before Him, I experience anew His forgiveness, redemption, mercy, and grace, as I sense His blood dripping over the Crown of Thorns pressed into His brow, onto my heart, covering my sin, and I get up from my knees wearing His Robe of righteousness as I face the day ahead…rowing into the future. 

What are your thoughts? 

In what ways might the Lord use a timeline to help you gain a wide-angle view of life?

Where Do You Come From?

After reading this wonderful blog, I was inspired to write my own. Once you start writing, anything that comes to your mind, the memories come flooding back and you are taken back. It’s such a great exercise in thankfulness...why not give it a try?

I come from Ellis Island where the ship, Princess Irene, brought my maternal birth grandparents from Scontrone, Italy, to Chicago in 1906.

I come from an illegal abortionist who refused to abort me at 4 months gestation in 1952.

I come from the Salvation Army hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, where my birthmother placed me for adoption on Friday the 13th of February in 1953.

I come from loving Christian parents who adopted me and took me to church and Sunday School.

I come from chocolate milk before bedtime made with love by my daddy.

I come from cookies and milk after school with my stay-at-home mom.

I come from chocolate milk shakes at the drug store during Sunday afternoon drives.

I come from moving to nine different houses in ten years between 1st grade and 10th grade.

I come from six years of home economics in junior high and high school.

I come from being elected president of the Future Homemakers of America in 9th grade.

I come from being chosen as editor-in-chief of my junior high newspaper.

I come from being honored as “Miss Responsibility” by my junior high principal.

I come from being elected as the first female president of my high school student body.

I come from summer vacations at Indian Shores Beach and Gatlinburg.

But more importantly…

I come from adoptive parents who loved me enough to introduce me to Jesus Christ.

I come from Sunday School and G.A.’s mission groups every week from the cradle roll.

I come from a mom and dad who made sure that we were in the pews every Sunday.

I come from youth pastors who gave all of their time to help me find my way.

I come from Young Life inner city retreats where I learned to see God in unlikely places.

I come from summer G.A. camps where I learned to make s’mores.

I come from singing His praise in the inspirational musical, “Tell It Like It Is.”

I come from His grace and mercies that are new every morning, praise Him.

I come from His Word, which is alive and active in me.

I come from a Heavenly Father who knows what my future holds.

I come from desiring to know Him better and to walk more closely.

This is where I come from. It made me who I am today. It is molding and shaping every choice that I make now, and in the days to come. Thank God He has been with me all along.

Where do you come from?

(c) 2011 beth willis miller

Many Memorial Days

Memorial Day 2010 my Mom, Frances Mae Carson Willis, went home to be with Jesus...

Memorial Day 2009 my cousin, Patti Ann Brower Hatcher, went home to be with Jesus...

Memorial Day 1989 my Daddy, Eston Franklin Willis, went home to be with Jesus...

Memorial Day 1952 I was knit together in my birthmother's womb by El Shaddai, my all-sufficient Heavenly Father...

I re-wallpaper my mind with the Truth of God's Word...all my days were ordained for me before one of them came to be...He knows the plans, the hope, and the future He has for me, the best is yet to be...God is Who He Says He is...God can do what He says He can do--nothing is impossible for Him...I am who God says I am--in Christ, I am blessed with every spiritual blessing, accepted in the Beloved Son of God, adopted as a child of the King, chosen before the foundation of the world, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, forgiven by His Grace and Mercy, and loved with an everlasting love and underneath are the everlasting arms, a love that will not let me go...I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength--His grace is sufficient...His Word is alive and active in me...I am believing God...

...praying continually for a circumcised heart which seeks to know Him and believe Him more, turning away from unbelief, doubt, worry, fear and insecurity...

...seeking to Glorify God, turning away from pride, which is self-absorption...

...seeking to find my satisfaction in Him, turning away from idolatry, which is putting anything ahead of or instead of God...

...seeking to experience His Peace through prayer, turning away from prayerlessness...

...to enjoy His Presence through my relationship with Him moment-by-moment, turning away legalism...

...praying that the Spirit of Christ Who dwells in the innermost part of me will take authority over my soul--the seat of my emotions, and my body--my fleshly desires and appetites...

...praying, Lord Jesus, Bless us indeed...

...do something so big in our lives that it is obviously from You...

...increase our influence and opportunities to make a difference for You...

...give us a continual sense of Your Presence and direction as we make decisions...

...protect us spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, and relationally...

...keep us from falling into satan's evil traps...

...praying Heavenly Father, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next...

...praying the prayer that never fails...Thy will be done...

(c) 2010 beth willis miller

How I Came To Be--Expect A Mystery



Ellis Island Interior

Ellis Island Exterior

 In many ways, it’s still a mystery…how I came to be. During a visit to Ellis Island's American Family Immigration History Center, I was delightfully surprised to be able to locate and obtain an authentic copy of the ship manifest page from the ship, Princess Irene, which brought my maternal birth grandparents, Olympio and Vincenza from their home in Scontrone, Italy, through the port of departure in Naples to Ellis Island on August 30, 1906.

Just seeing their two names listed one underneath the other on the ship manifest page gave the mystery such a tangible basis in reality. She was only 16 years old, he was just 24, and they were on their way to live with cousins in Chicago.

What compels a 16 year old girl to board a ship in Italy, facing days on the ocean in most likely uncomfortable, even dangerous, conditions for a destination yet unknown to her?

Somehow she and her fiancé, Olympio, were so motivated to start a new life in a new country that they left their home in Scontrone, Italy, and traveled to New York City, eventually settling in Chicago. They married and had a daughter, Lydia, in 1911.

How I Came To Be

  

Olympio

Vincenza

Lydia

Lydia & Vincenza on Mother's Day 1953

I met my birthmother, Lydia, in 1983, when I was 30 years old, and Lydia was 72. Lydia explained to me the circumstances of my conception, birth, and adoption. During a Memorial Day holiday get-away weekend with a gentleman in 1952, Lydia, at age 41, became pregnant with me. When she realized she was pregnant, she told the gentleman with whom she had spent the weekend and he was unwilling to help her. Her mother, Vincenza, did not want her daughter, a single mother at age 41, to disgrace her family with an illegitimate child, so Lydia left Chicago to live with a relative in Miami, Florida. In October, around the time of Columbus Day, she went to a back-alley abortionist to abort me, but when the abortionist examined her and realized she was over four months pregnant, he told her the abortion might kill her, and he refused to do it. Lydia made arrangements with the Salvation Army hospital in Jacksonville to give me up for adoption. On Friday the 13th she gave birth to me, and signed the papers giving me up for adoption on Valentine’s Day 1953.

Plans to Give Me Hope and a Future



Beth, July 1953

I was adopted a few months later by loving Christian parents. I grew up in church, active in Sunday School and missions organizations. I prayed to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at the age of 10, and was baptized by immersion following my salvation. I married Jack Miller on Mother’s Day 1973 and finished my bachelor’s degree in education in 1975, and my master’s degree in education in 1977. Our daughter, Tracy, was born in 1979, and our son, Jason, was born in 1991. After serving in various teaching and supervisory positions, I was selected as the state consultant for gifted education programs by the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee, and other leadership roles, now serving as a ministry assistant at Lakes Church, my home church.

Every Moment Was Laid Out Before a Single Day Had Passed

During an awe-inspiring trip to Israel in March 2000, I was baptized in the Jordan River as a recommitment of my faith. I grow closer to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every day through prayer, worship, and the study of His Word. I believe there are no “accidents” and every conception and every birth is part of God’s Sovereign Plan. I rest and find comfort in these life verses: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:13-16) 

 

My prayer, the desire of my heart is, “Lord, I want to delight in you! Center my heart in knowing you more and loving you more day by day. Help me to discover that there is fullness of joy in your presence and to take great delight in my relationship with you. May my heart desire you above everything else.” It’s been many years since I first began to pray this prayer in March 2000 after returning from my trip to Israel in which I walked beside the Sea of Galilee and on the Mount of Olives, to all the historical sites in Jerusalem, Capernaum, and Bethlehem. During this time in my study of the Scriptures, I came to a place in my life where I wanted, more than anything else, to love God more. I began to pray, “Lord, I want to delight in you!” God is so inconceivably good. He’s not looking for perfection. He already saw it in Christ. He’s looking for affection. That’s why every lasting change will invariably be a change of heart. He’ll even supply the heart, if we’ll ask him.



My daily prayer continues to this day, “Lord Jesus, give me a heart which yearns for Your Presence, a yearning for You that draws me over and over into Your Presence, a yearning that makes only a few days without time in prayer and Your Word seem like an eternity. Give me a heart which is motivated first and foremost by a desire for You, not for what You can do for me, but a yearning for Your Presence. Give me a heart that wants You more than anything else You could give, to love You and know You more than anything in life. Give me a heart that takes what You have made known to me and makes You re-known to everyone else, a heart that makes Your name and renown the desire of my heart. Give me a heart to feel Your Holy Spirit woo me once again to the place where I meet You. In the simplicity of my prayer time, give me a heart to be suddenly confronted by the majesty of my Redeemer—the One Who is responsible for any good in me. Lord, each morning, give me a heart that seeks Your forgiveness for past sins, and welcomes Your fresh mercies which fall like manna from Heaven, and once again move my heart. I surrender all. Morning after morning.”



My daily relationship with our living Lord Jesus reinforces my belief in the sovereignty of God, that nothing comes into my life that is not filtered through God's hands of love. I believe there are no “accidents.” I believe God planned who my birth parents would be and who my Mom and Dad would be, and both influences, plus His, are needed to help me become all that He created me to be. I believe that God sees the end from the beginning. He knows me intimately, He knit me together in my mother's womb, one day I will see Him face-to-face and I will know as I am known...until then, I will expect a mystery. It is His plan that’s important, not my desire.



I didn't bring myself into this world, and I can’t take myself into heaven. I really don’t know what is best for me or for those I love. I ask God to make me sensitive to the reality that He is in control, and that He is using this--even this--to conform me to the image of His Son. I want that most of all. I train my mind to acknowledge God’s hand in whatever it is I'm living with. I practice words like, “I don’t know,” “I will trust,” “I can’t explain,” “I release it all,” because God is sovereign. He is the beginning, He will be the ending, and in between, by His grace, He lets us be part of His perfect plan, for His glory and for our good. In the meantime, I will expect a mystery.



Beth & Lydia in Chicago, July 1983