HOLY FATHER;

MOTHERS BIRTH US.
MOTHERS KNIT OUR CHILDHOOD MEMORIES INTO THEIR HEARTS.
MOTHERS FRAME OUR LIVES WITH EXPECTANCY.
THIS IS THE WAY OF LOVE.

” LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.” JOHN 15:12

YOUR LOVE IS THE SUREST POSSESSION I HAVE.
WHEN I MEET THOSE WHO ARE BROKEN BY LIFE, MY HEART YEARNS FOR THEM TO KNOW YOUR LOVE.
YOU CHOSE TO SEND JESUS TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH YOU LOVE US.
HE CAME OUT OF LOVE.
HE STILL DOES.

AS WE CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF WOMEN ON THIS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, SPEAK YOUR LOVE TO EVERY WOMAN WHO READS THIS PRAYER.
YOU KNOW ALL THE MOMENTS OF HER LIFE.
YOU KNOW HER PARENTING.
YOU KNOW HER STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.
YOU KNOW HER CHOICES.

MOTHERING IS A PROCESS IN WHICH WE ALL PARTICIPATE WHETHER WE BIRTH CHILDREN AND RAISE
THEM OR MENTOR OTHERS WHOM WE ENCOUNTER.
SET BACKS SET US BACK AND IN CRISIS WE MOTHER ONE ANOTHER.
GODLY WOMEN TURN TO YOUR WORD AND ON THEIR KNEES FIND THE STRENGTH TO KEEP WATCH AND GIVE .
EVEN THOUGH DISAPPOINTMENTS AND DOUBTS ATTEMPT TO DERAIL US… TRUE MOTHER LOVE IS ” STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN GRACE.” 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58

THIS IS THE FAMILY OF GOD.

WE PRAY TODAY THAT AS WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER THE SISTERHOOD OF FAITH WILL GROW WITH COMPASSION AND CONFIDENCE.

THE BIBLE IS FULL OF STORIES OF WOMEN WHO FOUND THEIR WAY HOME TO YOU THROUGH DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, WAS A TEEN CHOSEN TO TRUST GOD WITH IMPOSSIBILITY.
ELIZABETH, MOTHER OF JOHN, WAS OLD AND BEYOND CHILD BEARING, BUT FILLED WITH FAITH.
HANNAH, MOTHER OF SAMUEL, BATTLED BARRENNESS, BUT BELIEVED GOD FOR A MIRACLE.
ANNA,,SINGLE, THEN MARRIED, CHILDLESS, THEN WIDOWED, WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN WHO LIVED IN THE TEMPLE AS AN INTERCESSOR AND ONE DAY IN A LONG AWAITED MOMENT OF GLORY SHE ENCOUNTERED THE KING OF KINGS IN THE ARMS OF HIS EARTHLY PARENTS.
LYDIA WAS A MERCHANT DEALING IN PURPLE GOODS WHO FOUND HER WAY TO A PRAYER MEETING WHICH CHANGED HER LIFE.
DEBORAH WAS A JUDGE, WARRIOR, COUNSELOR KNOWN FOR DECISION MAKING AND WISDOM.
ESTHER WAS A QUEEN WHO STOOD IN COURAGE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THESE WERE WOMEN WHO FOLLOWED AFTER YOU.
YOU KNEW THEM AND YOU KNOW US.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY IN OUR SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE WE BEGAN TO YEARN TO BELONG TO YOUR FOREVER FAMILY.

TODAY WE PAUSE TO CELEBRATE AND THANK YOU FOR MOTHERS–AND OTHERS– WHO HAVE BROUGHT PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL LIFE TO US.
BLESS THEM TODAY WITH HOPE.
SEEKING, PLEADING, REAPING OR LEADING WE LIFT EACH ONE TO YOU IN THANKSGIVING.
JESUS CAME ” THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY.” JOHN 10:10

MOTHERING MATTERS.
IT ALWAYS WILL.

IN JESUS’ NAME WE BOW DOWN, REMEMBER AND HONOR THESE BELOVED WOMEN OF WORTH.

BILLIE

MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, FRIEND, INTERCESSOR

He is not here. He is Risen. Matthew 28:6

The crowd  that gathered before the CROSS of CHRIST  was a microcosm of  true humanity.

Believers were trembling.

Scoffers were insulting.

Bystanders were gawking.

Soldiers were gambling.

There was revelry, shouting, weeping and  skepticism.

AND His mother was there…    Near the CROSS of Jesus stood his mother. John 19:25

The apostle John was with her … only John.

Where were the disciples?

Were they in hiding?

Where was their allegiance to the ONE they followed?

They should have been there.

CHRIST WAS BORN TO DIE.

HE DIED TO LIVE AGAIN –eternally!

The scene played out personally with anguish, suffering , isolation and finality.

HE UTTERED THESE WORDS,  “It is finished.” Romans 3:26

DARKNESS FELL.

THE HEAVENS SHOOK.

THE EARTH  QUAKED.

Standing near by was Joseph of Arimethea.

He provided the tomb in which the body of Jesus would be placed.

Imagine the significance of this provision.

He had it.

He gave it.

He is remembered  forever for it.

And  now once more we remember the mother of Christ.   Mary’s heart  had experienced  the  marvel of his  conception and birth , the memories of his childhood and now the manifested grace given at his death.

She was on watch.

Early in the morning  women came with spices to anoint the body of Christ for it  it was customary to do so.

How were they chosen?

Did they want to go?

Were they anxious?

They were women on watch.

WHAT A  MORNING THIS WAS TO BE!

BORN TO DIE FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD, HE WAS.

RESURRECTED TO LIVE SO THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD  MIGHT FIND LIFE ETERNALLY, HE WAS.

The stone was rolled away. The grave clothes were intact..

An angel spoke these words,  “ He is not here. He is Risen.”

When the soldiers guarding the tomb awoke and saw what had happened they ran away with fear for their lives.

THE STONE WAS A MIGHTY BOULDER!

The women ran with joy to share the good news with  the disciples.

From Death to Resurrection, women were on watch.

And so we are today… over families and nations because of the Sacrifice of the CROSS and the power of the  Resurrection, we can say, “HE IS RISEN”!!!!

The Christ of scripture can live in your life.

Seek Him.

Find Him.

Keep vigil.

BE ON WATCH!

A Blessed Easter to you,

Billie

 

 

 

TORNADOES HAVE DEVASTATED OUR NATION THIS WEEK.

IT’S TIME TO GATHER IN PRAYER FOR THESE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND BROKEN BY GRIEF.

” PRAISE BE TO THE GOD …THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT, WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES…

2 CORINTHIANS 1:4

HOLY FATHER;

WE ARE BROKEN BY  THE STORMS OF LIFE.

WE ARE BROKEN BY THE SIGHT OF HOMES , SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES DESTROYED.

WE ARE BROKEN BY THE PRECIOUS LOSS OF LOVED ONES WHO ARE GONE.

THE WINDS OF DISASTER HAVE DESCENDED ONCE AGAIN UPON OUR LAND.

WE CRY OUT TO YOU FOR MERCY AND GRACE  UPON THESE FAMILIES  WHO WERE IN THE  PATH OF RAGING WINDS AND NOW FACE UNCERTAIN  FUTURES CRIPPLED WITH DOUBT AND FEAR.

COME INTO  THIS SUFFERING AND BEGIN TO BREAK UP THE FALLOW GROUND AND PLANT SEEDS OF HOPE IN EACH ONE– AGAIN.

TRAGEDY STRIKES.

WE HOLD ON TO WHAT WE KNOW.

” I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND HELP YOU.” ISAIAH 41:10

YOU ARE WITH US IN IT.

” I WILL BE WITH YOU …”MATTHEW 28:20

IN OUR CONFUSION AND DESPAIR , YOU ENTER IN WAYS NEVER BEFORE.

YOU “PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO GRIEVE… A GARMENT OF PRAISE INSTEAD OF A SPIRIT OF DESPAIR.” ISAIAH 61:3b

HOW IRONIC THAT THE CHOICE IS OURS: WE CAN SEEK YOU AND FIND COMFORT OR WE CAN TURN AWAY AND LIVE IN BITTERNESS.

YOU ARE THE  AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH.

“…LOOKING  UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH..” HEBREWS 12:2

STORMS BREAK US PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

YOU ALONE RESTORE.

SOME KNOW THIS TRUTH AND ARE WALKING BY FAITH.

SOME DO NOT AND NEED TO BE CARRIED  IN PRAYER.

WE COME ASKING FOR  DIVINE  INTERVENTION  IN EVERY PLACE — FOR YOUR COMPELLING. ROUTE FOOD,WATER,  CLOTHING, BLANKETS, MONIES, MANPOWER, VEHICLES AND SHELTER PROVISIONS OF EVERY KIND.

DIRECT YOUR  PEOPLE  FROM THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST TO TRAVEL AND MEET NEEDS.

WHISPER YOUR LOVE TO THESE CRUSHED HEARTS AND THEN SHOUT IT!

MAY HYMNS RISE AND SINGING BREAK FORTH AS MEN AND WOMEN WORK TOGETHER TO RECONSTRUCT  THESE  RAVAGED TOWNS.

OH GOD OUR PRAISE PARTS OPPRESSION!

AMERICA IS AS GREAT AS HER PEOPLE.

CALL THEM!

REVEAL YOUR LOVE AND GUIDING HAND THROUGH THOSE WHO ARE COMING TO  SERVE ONE ANOTHER IN THIS CRISIS.

GIVE REST, RESCUE AND RENEWAL  FOR EACH DAY–TO EACH ONE.

GIVE LOVING REMEMBRANCE AND CREATE NEW FRIENDSHIPS  AS FAMILIES GATHER TO MOURN. DRAW THEM INTO T HE CIRCLE OF FAITH.

OUR LIVES HAVE BOOK ENDS– BIRTH AND DEATH.

WE DO NOT CHOOSE EITHER BUT WE CAN CHOOSE HOW TO LIVE IN BETWEEN.

WINDS OF DISASTER BOND US TOGETHER AS A PEOPLE.

IN JESUS ‘ NAME WE BOW DOWN AND  COME ALONGSIDE THESE IN PRAYER  WITH  GRACIOUS EXPECTATION .

IN ALL THINGS YOU REIGN,

PRAYING THROUGH WITH YOU,

BILLIE

ACTS 17:28

 

FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH TO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE,  I PRESS  TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING IN CHRIST  JESUS. PHILIPPIANS 3:13

 

HOLY FATHER;

WE ARE BEGINNING– AGAIN.

WE ARE SEEKING YOUR WILL FOR OUR LIVES– AGAIN.

WE ARE APPROACHING  A NEW YEAR  WITH EXPECTANCY AND ANXIETY– AGAIN.

YOU ARE THE SAME GOD   WHO CARRIED US THROUGH 2011. PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME!

YOU WERE PRESENT WITH US THROUGH THE SEASONS OF SOWING AND REAPING, RECEIVING AND REPENTING.

HOW WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE LOVE TO US THROUGH JESUS.

THE CROSS BECKONS US — AGAIN.

FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND — WE PRESS ON INTO 2012 SEEKING YOUR FACE AS THIS YEAR  UNFOLDS.

CHART OUR DESTINY.

OPEN AND CLOSE DOORS FOR US.

STRETCH OUR FAITH.

GIVE US NEW HORIZONS.

KEEP US FIT TO SERVE.

ESTABLISH SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE IN OUR LIVES.

BREATHE YOUR LIFE OVER US AND GROW US INTO  INTO  A PRAYING PEOPLE.

WHEN SIN GRABS OUR JOY, GRAB OUR CONSCIENCE.

WHEN WE STUMBLE, PICK US UP.

WHEN WE CATCH A GLIMPSE OF YOUR GLORY, IMPRINT IT UPON  OUR SOULS SO WE CAN SING IT, SPEAK IT, WRITE IT AND REMEMBER IT FOREVER.

OUR NATION NEEDS A MIGHTY SPIRITUAL  AWAKENING.

SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEGIN WITH ME AND THEN MOVE ACROSS OUR LAND TO THE NORTH, SOUTH , EAST AND WEST MOVING THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE TO A HUNGER AND THIRST FOR JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS!

OH GOD, COME INTO THE DAYS AND MONTHS AHEAD AND STIR YOUR PEOPLE TO REACH , MEET, ENCOUNTER AND SHOW YOUR LOVE TO  ONE ANOTHER.

ORCHESTRATE  OUR SCHEDULES.

ADD OR DELETE.

KEEP US AS THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE FOR WE WANT TO PLEASE ONLY YOU.

COME BACK INTO OUR CULTURE HOLY GOD WE CRY!

BRING REDEMPTION,FORGIVENESS, PARDON, MERCY –HOPE– AGAIN.

WE BOW DOWN AND PROMISE TO SOW OUR SEED BESIDE ALL WATERS– ” BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO SOW SEED BY ALL WATERS.” ISAIAH 32:20.

WE PROMISE TO FOLLOW YOU.

WE SERVE A MIGJTY GOD!

WE LOVE YOU SUPREMELY.

HALLELUJAH!

YOU PROMISE US– ” THE WORK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS PEACE, AND THE EFFECT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, QUIETNESS AND ASSURANCE FOREVER.” ISAIAH 32:17

WE WILL HAVE PEACE AND ASSURANCE AS WE PRESS ON TO THE HIGH CALLING IN CHRIST JESUS.

HEAR THE PRAYERS OF YOUR PEOPLE AS  WE JOIN  OUR VOICES  AS ONE VOICE UNTO  YOU FOR  THE YEAR 2012,A CROSSROADS YEAR  IN THE HISTORY OF OUR LAND.

CHOOSE OUR LEADERS.

CHOOSE OUR WAY.

WE CHOOSE YOU– AGAIN AND AGAIN.

IN JESUS’ NAME WE PRAY

GOD BLESS EACH ONE WHO PRAYS IN AGREEMENT.

HAPPY NEW YEAR,

BILLIE

 

For with YOU is the fountain of Life; In  YOUR LIGHT WE SEE LIGHT. Psalm 38:10

LIGHT ILLUMINES, REFLECTS, POINTS THE WAY, GUIDES, AND GUARDS FROM DANGER.

WE NEED LIGHT…PRACTICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

DARKNESS HIDES, HINDERS AND  HOLDS US HOSTAGE .

JESUS CAME TO BRING AN ETERNAL  LIGHT FOR ALL PEOPLE.

HIS BIRTH WAS PLANNED, BY A GOD OF LIGHT, ATTENDED BY ANGELS WHO SANG OF HIS LIGHT AND SHEPHERDS AND WISE MEN FOLLOWED A STAR TO DIRECT THEM TO TO THE MANAGER.

HOW DID MARY BIRTH A CHILD IN SUCH A PLACE?

THERE WAS WARMTH FROM THE ANIMALS, AN  EARTHLY HELP MEET NAMED JOSEPH AND THE ENTOURAGE  OF THOSE COMING TO PAY HOMAGE.

BUT, IT ALL BEGAN WITH MARY AND JOSEPH WHO TRUSTED THE LIGHT OF TRUTH.

MARY ACCEPTED THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN ANGEL  THAT SHE HAD BEEN CHOSEN  TO BE THE MOTHER OF THE CHRIST, CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT….” MAY IT BE TO ME AS YOU HAVE SAID.” LUKE 1:38

JOSEPH WAS ALERTED IN A DREAM ALSO BY AN ANGEL WHO CONFIRMED TO HIM THAT” MARY HAD CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT– A SON –” THEY WOULD  CALL HIM  “IMMANUEL”– WHICH MEANS GOD WITH US–

“WHEN JOSPEH WOKE UP HE DID WHAT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD HAD COMMANDED HIM AND TOOK MARY HOME  AS HIS WIFE.”  MATTHEW1:24

THESE CHOSEN ONES LIVED IN THE LIGHT OF DEVOTION , FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO THE GOD THEY SERVED.

THEY HEARD AND OBEYED.

OBEDIENCE REQUIRES ACTION NOT JUST ASSENT.

IT IS AN AMAZING ACCOUNT OF TRANSPARENT LIVES , OPEN TO THE LEADING OF GOD’S DIVINE LIGHT.

THEY HAD HANDS ON  INFLUENCE, LOVE AND WATCH CARE OVER THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

STARS IN THE HEAVENS WERE USED TO GUIDE THOSE COMING TO CELEBRATE  THIS EVENT WHICH WOULD FOREVER PIERCE THE DARKNESS OF OUR WORLD– GENERATIONS, RACES, AGES WOULD KNOW HOW JESUS’ BIRTH WOULD CHANGE LIFE.

PARDON, FORGIVENESS. MERCY, GRACE RESTORATION WOULD ADORN HEARTS WHO RECEIVED HIM.

THE  JOURNEY OF THE MANGER, CHILDHOOD, MANHOOD WOULD UNFOLD THE MISSION OF A LOVING GOD  WHO WOULD RECONCILE A LOST WORLD UNTO HIMSELF THOUGH JESUS.

THE CROSS WOULD BE THE SYMBOL OF SACRIFICE AS JESUS’ BLOOD WAS POURED OUT FOR OUR SIN, ALL SIN, ALL MEN.

NOW THE CHRIST OF SCRIPTURES CAN LIVE WITHIN US BY HIS SPIRIT.  HALLELUJAH!

” BUT TO AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD.”JOHN 1:12

WE CAN HEAR, RECEIVE , BELIEVE AND THEN BELONG.

WILL YOU?

ONLY YOU CAN CHOOSE.

HOW?

BY OPENING UP YOUR HEART  IN PRAYER– INVITING HIM TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE, TO CLEANSE YOU OF ALL THE SIN THAT HAS BEEN WEIGHTING YOU DOWN BURYING  ALL HOPE. CONFESSION OF SIN IS THE DOOR TO OPEN .

HE WILL COME.

IF YOU DO THIS– HIS LIGHT WILL BECOME COMPELLING– IN THE WORD OF GOD, THROUGH PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW HIM, IN CIRCUMSTANCES, IN DECISIONS, IN ILLNESS, IN TRIUMPHS AND FAILURES, IN LOSS AND DOUBT, THROUGH IT ALL YOU WILL KNOW YOU BELONG TO HIM AND THEREFORE HIS LIGHT WILL OPEN THE WAY MOMENT TO MOMENT , DAY BY DAY…YES NIGHT TO NIGHT.

WILL YOU?

COME TO THE MANGER AND SEE.

A BABE WHO WILL BE KING.

KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS, YOUR KING, YOUR SAVIOR AND FOREVER HE WILL POINT THE WAY FOR YOU THROUGH ALL THE SEASONS OF LIFE.

THEN AS MEMBER OF THE FAMILY OF GOD YOU WILL MEET FOLKS  WHO LOOK DIFFERENT FROM YOU BUT YOU WILL KNOW THEM AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS  IN FAITH!

WHAT A CHRISTMAS GIFT, ETERNAL, EVERLASTING.

COME!

MERRY CHRISTMAS. FOLLOW HIS LIGHT!

BILLIE