Seen in the Blood: This Is the Story of an Ordinary Woman Who Serves an Extraordinary God

© 2004 by Betty Bowen. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4140-4458-3 (e-book)

ISBN: 1-4140-4457-7 (Paperback)

ISBN: 1-4140-445b-9 (Dust Jacket)

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, KING JAMES VERSION. THE THOMPSON CHAIN-REFERENCE BIBLE Copywrite © 1982 . By the B. B. KIRKBRIDE BIBLE COMPANY, INC. Previous Editions Copywrite, 1908, 1917, 1929, 1934, 1957, 19b4 BY Frank Charles Thompson.

Quotations marked NIV are:

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

The NIV and New International version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

Scripture quotations marked NKJ are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 BY Thomas Nelson, Inc. Nashville, Tennessee.

Scripture quotations marked NAS are from MASTER STUDY BIBLE, NEW AMERICAN STANDARD, Copyright © 1981 by HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS, Nashville, Tennessee 37234

Scripture quotations marked AMP are as follows: Scripture taken from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, Old Testament copyright © 19b5, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright ©1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Take note that the name satan and related names are not capitalized. We choose not to acknowledge him, even to the point of violating grammatical rules.

Contents

EZEKIEL 1b:4-14

Dedications

Acknowledgements

Recommendation

Recommendation

Foreward

Introduction

Seen in the Blood

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, Live!" Ezekiel lb:b (NIV)

EZEKIEL 1b:4-14

New InUrnationaC Version

4.   "On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with sait or wrapped in cloths.

5.   No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. (Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.

6.   Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, Live!"

7.   I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare.

8.   "Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.

9.   "I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you.

10.   I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments.

11.   I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.

1.   So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was fine flour, honey and olive oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen.

2.   And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD…"

Dedications

First of all may all glory be given to my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord, and to my teacher the precious Holy Spirit, who have known me before time and watched over me from the day of my birth on this earth.

To my children, Gary Stillwell and Jan (Stillwell) Lynn, who have watched God take me through many tests, heartaches and times of happiness and yet Coved me through my mistakes and triumphs. May they never forget as they watched the faithfulness of God to never leave me nor forsake me! My prayer is that the triumphs as well as the mistakes help serve as a distinctive trail that will always point and lead them to our Heavenly Father throughout their lives!

Both were gifts from God to help mold me into the person God ordained for me to become. I thank God for each of them!

To my granddaughter, Sami, may she always know she is Coved by her Grandma Betty and by God who Coved her before her earthly birth. May she always know He will never leave her nor forsake her!

Grammatical errors have been permitted in order to write exact

quotes.

Acknowledgements

To my adoptive father and mother Gladney and Lois Cummins, who took. me and loved me as their own, and who instilled a love for God as well as training for my future as a wife, mother and business woman.

To my biologica[ mother Clarine Ray for allowing my adoption.

To my ex-husband Bill Bowen, who walked through many years of lífe with me and has remained a good friend

To my Israeli children Uri, Tuvia, Rub, Gelles, Yoram, Danny, Moshe and Livna, Amir and Jennie, as well as all the other Israelis God brought to enrich our lives as they lived in our home. Also, to Marilee and Ann, the wives of Uri and Rub who have shared their hearts and homes with us as we traveled to Israel many times. To Uri’s mother, Katy, who has so willingly shared her only son and allowed me to claim him as my first Israeli son.

To my favorite earthly teacher and mentor, Dr. Fuchsia Pickett who allowed God to use her life to help bring stability into my own as she poured the Word of God into me for years.

To Dr. Sam Sasser and the staff at Fountain Gate Bible College and Church who helped train me for my destiny in God

To the many friends, Coved ones and pastors, God chose to cross my path to help mold and make my life for Him.

A sincere thank you to Rev. Barbara Collins and all who have extended your prayers, talents and hands to help complete the editing, publishing and marketing of this book.

To you, the reader, may the Lord richly bless you as you travel this journey through the pages my life. May the trail I leave be so distinctive that you will find a greater relationship with our God than you have thus far known!

Recommendation

SEEN IN THE BLOOD is a touching tribute to the Lord’s watch-care and guidance over one woman’s life. The title underscores the only way God sees any of us-in the blood shed by His Son. Indeed, He guides us with His eye and promises that He’ll keep His eye on those who fear Him and who hope in His mercy. The author’s saga proves that her life’s circumstances give evidence that not only His eye but also His hand altered the outcome of many situations. You will laugh. You will cry. You will identify. Your own life will be enriched and blessed as you read. You will desire the not-yet-written sequel to this book since Betty’s life never remains static but continues to go with the flow of His Spirit into new challenges and vistas every day.

Rev. Barbara Collins

Plano, Texas

Recommendation

Betty Bowen has been a friend since 1970. Our first meeting had a profound impact on my life. It was in a home group meeting and I watched Betty, as she was led of the Lord, do a beautiful dance through the home, as we all worshipped God together.

As I read her book, I began to see the plan of God’s miraculous work in the life of His child. SEEN IN THE BLOOD is a story of Father God beginning with a throw away-His taking a life full of rejection and brokenness and starting the process of deep and permanent healing. But as with all those whom God is working in and through, the process is never over.

Betty is a worein progress. Her life is visible proof of the Loving Hand of God as He directs and orders the circumstances of His child I believe the Holy Spirit can speak to your heart as you read the pages of this book. And His words to you will be very simply, "Yield to MY purposes and plans for your life.

Allow Me to create Godys image in you.. You have been planned for eternity. Trust Me."

Pastor Jerry Skinner

The Lighthouse Toursquare Church

North Platte, Nebraska

Foreward

To follow the trail of this author one will have to travel from being found in a bloody bushel basket through the vicarious, substitutionary, mediatorial blood of Calvary to the resurrection of a new life in Jesus Christ. And exclaim with her Look what the Lord has done!

Dr. Fuchsia Pickett

Fuchsia Pickett Ministries

394 Glory Road

Blountville, Tn. 37617

Introduction

In 1971, when the Holy Spirit directed the first writing that developed into this book, I thought it was for my own inner healing. I was shown a vision of the day of my birth. I began to write the vision and the story of my life through 1965. At that point in time, the story was seemingly brought to a close. I placed the writing in a large manila envelope and stored it in the piano bench where it remained until April 3, 1987. At that time, my home burned. Everything was destroyed, including the piano bench. I never thought of the writing again.

During the summer of 2001 as I walked into my home office, I saw a large manila envelope lying on my desk. The envelope looked familiar, but I knew no other person had been in my home for several weeks. I approached the envelope cautiously because I knew the envelope containing the writing about my life burned when my home was destroyed by fire. Sure enough, on the face of the envelope was written: BETTY’S LIFE STORY. I must admit I was somewhat frightened because I knew the manuscript did not survive the fire. When I opened the envelope and noticed a faint smell of smoke, I became quite nervous.

Quickly, I closed the envelope and placed it in my desk drawer as I pondered what had happened. I knew in my heart and spirit an angel of the Lord brought it to me, but why? I was afraid to guess.

That question was answered in August of 2002. When I went to bed for a night of rest, the Holy Spirit kept praying through me; and I was not allowed sleep. Tor approximately three hours, I tossed, turned, prayed and read the Word; but sleep still evaded me. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit began to write through my mind. First, came a dosing, then the title, SEEN IN THEE BLOOD, along with the acknowledgements and dedications. Finally, the words started flowing, continuing from 19b5. I knew the Holy Spirit was prompting me to write. I went to my office, picked up a pen and pad and began to write as the precious Holy Spirit began flooding me with memories of my life. I wrote for seven hours as fast as I could. This pattern continued for days and nights until November 1 at 3:19 a.m. when the Holy Spirit directed me to look at the clock as I typed the final sentence. I said, Lord, this time is exactly the same time when Jan, my daughter, was born on November 1, 1956 at 3:19 a.m. Yes, I must admit I felt as though I had just given birth to my third child.

I wanted to think this writing was just for my own inner healing. Deep inside, I knew better. I kept reminding the Lord that I am not a writer. I don’t even speak proper English much less have the ability to write a book. I speak and write Okie talk] In fact, all my friends have always said, Betty, you write just like you talk. After all, I’m just an ordinary woman. After reminding the Lord of my inadequacy several times, I received a very distinct reprimand when He said, But you serve an extraordinary God!

Seen in the Blood

Ezekiel 16:6 (NIV) (KJV)

Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, Live!"

"And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live: yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live."

Chapter I

God’s Watchful Eye

On August 10, 1930 on a crisp morning in the sleepy little town of Holdenville, Oklahoma, the birds were singing and chirping as if they were trying to tell someone a story. As the Dilday family awakened and began preparing for the busy day ahead, little did they realize the events of the past few hours would touch not only their lives but many others in this small town.

Mr. Dilday opened the back door and stood looking at the beautiful peaceful day as yet untouched by the hustle and bustle of everyday life that comes as routine when you own and operate a hotel. As he started to pick up the fresh milk left by the milkman, he noticed a bushel basket setting on the door stoop. Even though a bit puzzled by its presence, he heard a faint sound and looked inside the basket. He thought someone had dumped some baby kittens to be given away. As he peered inside, he saw the basket lined with newspapers.

Much to his surprise, inside he saw a new-born baby girl that had not been washed or clothed since birth. Shocked was not the word to explain what he felt as he blinked his eyes to make sure he wasn’t imagining things not really there.

Excitedly, he gathered the basket in his arms and hurried into the house. He was trying to stay calm; but after all, it wasn’t every day, especially in 1930, that you found a new-born babe on your door stoop. As the Dildays discussed the event, they decided the proper thing to do was to call the police and to take the child to the local hospital. The baby girl was taken to the Holdenville General Hospital where proper care and nourishment could be given while her parents were located and authorities learned why she was abandoned.

When the story was published in the local newspaper, phone calls began to come in to the hospital, asking about the possibility of adopting the child. One such contact was made by a young childless couple living in the rural area close by. After being interviewed at the end of three weeks, the young couple was allowed to adopt the baby.

The child’s mother was found, and she gave her consent for adoption. Little did anyone realize the impact of this birth on the lives others until, in later years, the Holy Spirit revealed that the hand of God weighed heavily on this child. He had watched over her since birth.

Perhaps, you wonder how that statement can be made about a story such as this one. The reason why is I was that baby girl. Only as the precious Holy Spirit showed me by vision and revelation, did I realize how my being abandoned then later adopted has affected my entire life until this day. I feel very fortunate to have been reared and loved as though I was Mom and Dad’s own flesh and blood. In fact, many times I have seen my Mother’s heart crushed by the cruel remarks of thoughtless people. Usually, they would ask, How can you take someone else’s child into your heart? She isn’t even your own flesh and blood and was abandoned by her own mother. Remember, adoption was a stigma in 1930, not considered the blessing it is today. By hearing these remarks as I grew up, I realized something is wrong when people can’t accept you for who and what you are. I kept thinking that love must be more than just loving your own flesh and blood.

Loving Memories

Life was extra special for a little girl who probably was more spoiled than she realized. Not only was she the apple of her parents’ eye, but another young boy in the home felt the same. This 10 year-old-orphan whose parents had died walked up in their yard about three years earlier, looking for a home. Several brothers and sisters in his family were being sent to various foster homes, but he set out to find his own foster parents. The lady was outside washing clothes as he approached her. After asking her if they would like to have a little boy, he was told she would talk with her husband. My parents decided that he was to live with them. Even though Lyndel wasn’t adopted, he was like a brother to me.

At three years of age, my days were spent in usual childhood play as well as helping Mother in the house and helping Dad with the cattle. At least I thought I was helping! The pattern and training of my life was being set for my future and I started sewing and embroidery by hand at three years of age. The prize accomplishment of sewing my first quilt on Mother’s sewing machine came when I was five years old.

One particular day when I was about three, Mother was searching in the cedar chest for fabric and, of course, I was ‘helping" her. I found my adoption papers and asked what they were. On that day, Mother told me I had been adopted and explained the story of my birth. Even though at three years of age I didn’t understand the implications, I always knew from that time I had been adopted.

When it was possible, I was right by my Dad’s side or riding in the pickup with him. He was a rancher and livestock dealer, and the joy of my life was the days I could go with him as he traveled the surrounding areas buying cattle and hogs from the farmers.

He could use a lariat rope to catch hogs better than anyone I have ever seen to this day.

By the time I started to school, everyone knew I was a Daddy’s girl which resulted in being teased quite often. In fact, on the second day of school at Yeager Grade School, I saw my Daddy walk past the window and ran out of the class room crying to go with him. Needless to say, since I was a Daddy’s girl, he took me with him.

Because several hired hands were always working for us, I was exposed to much teasing and, believe me, spoiling also. Since I played store and school much of the time, one particular incident I remember quite well happened when I was outside playing in an extra-large, cardboard box. Deciding I wanted the box moved, I merely went to one of