What Billy Graham Means to Me

The real story of the Crusades is not in the great choirs, the thousands in attendance, nor the hundreds of inquirers who are counseled. The real story is in the changes that have taken place in the hearts and lives of people.

~Billy Graham

Salvation. That is the word that I think of when I hear Billy Graham's name. What an impact this humble, committed man had for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Possibly millions of souls were affected by his preaching of the simple Gospel of salvation. His level of commitment to the calling that the Lord placed upon his life was so great; he lived and moved and breathed the Gospel. He sacrificed everything for it. He was God's gift to our time. He was God's gift to my family. He was God's gift to me. 

My Mom came to know the Lord through a Billy Graham crusade. She came from a terribly broken background in many ways. But the Lord had His hand upon her even when she was a small girl. Her mother, who left the Catholic faith in order to marry my Italian Protestant grandfather brought her family of five to a little Baptist church in their small country Rhode Island town, giving them a glimpse of Who Jesus was. My Nana listened to sermons of J. Vernon McGee on the radio and herself hungered after a relationship with Jesus Christ, eventually coming to know Him as her Savior. 

And so the Lord was planting seeds in my Mom's heart even when she was a little girl, the time of Billy Graham's early ministry.  

Later, in her early 20's, my Mom experienced severe health issues. Listening to a Billy Graham crusade on television, she came to know the Lord. This was just a few years before I was born. 

Her life was transformed. My Mom, who had come from a broken background, who suffered from debilitating illness, became a born-again, devoted believer in Jesus Christ. Her life was completely changed. My Mom's coming to know the Lord had a profound impact upon our family and the ripples of her decision traveled to our extended family as well. 

Growing up, my Mom talked a lot about Billy Graham. We always received his Decision magazine in the mail.We knew how his ministry had impacted my Mom's life and she encouraged us to read books about Billy and his wife, Ruth. I remember being fascinated as a teenage girl by a book in my Mom's bookshelf detailing Ruth's life and her relationship with Billy Graham. And recently, the Lord has touched me in reading Billy Graham's mother's-Morrow Coffey Graham's small autobiography. 

I am so grateful for Billy Graham. For his life, for his commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for the legacy that he leaves through his children, many of who also serve the Lord. 

I am grateful. For the salvation that came to our family, for the Lord's hand upon this man's life, for his spiritual fervor and burning desire to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

This is a short tribute for a man whose life meant so much to me, to so many. It was difficult for me to process his death at first and it is still difficult for me to take it all in as his life in a very real way has been woven into mine indirectly. But at the same time that I feel sadness that this man is no longer a part of the world that I live in, I sense a deep joy and peace knowing that He is in a different "world," one that I am traveling to, one whose Builder and Maker is God, the One who wipes away every tear from our eyes. 

Billy Graham is there--in Heaven--with Jesus--what a thought! What a hope--the hope that Billy Graham faithfully preached for so many years and through his life and impact led many people to Heaven's gates. 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Billy Graham. Please raise up a new generation of men like him who will fearlessly preach the Gospel and bring many souls to the mercy seat of Christ, who are bold and unashamed. Revive Your church O Lord, and raise up committed men and women--committed wholeheartedly to the cause of Christ. 

Thank you, Lord for Billy Graham. For one whose life has meant so much to so many. For one whose life has meant so much to me. Thank you for his example, for his humility, for his strength. Thank You for taking him Home. And thank you for giving him to us. 

 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

~Romans 10:15 NKJV

God buries His workmen, but carries on His work.

~Charles Wesley

Books I highly recommend and believe will bless you in your walk with Jesus Christ:

• Ruth, A Portrait: The Story of Ruth Bell Graham
• Footprints of a Pilgrim
• A Time for Remembering
• Legacy of a Pack Rat
• It's My Turn
• They Call Me Mother Graham

You might find me on these link-ups:


Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Messy Marriage,  Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, SHINE Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday, Heart Encouragement Thursday , Sitting Among Friends Blog Party, Fabulous Warm Heart Party, Oh My Heartsie Girls Wonderful Wednesday Linkup, Writer Wednesday

For Prayers Answered, Mercy Given, and Hope

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. "

Psalm 126:3

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end . . . they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness . . ."

My heart is so full this morning . . . full in the knowledge that God answers prayer, that He intervenes on behalf of His precious people, that He is merciful when we come to Him in humility and repentance, that He relents from doing harm. 

My morning glories are still blooming. Blooming in November, now. The day after the last debate, they opened up, gazing at the sky, their brilliant blue reflecting His handiwork and grace. They opened in October. When my heart was so, so heavy about the upcoming election. When my spirit was grieving over the response of many Christians and their attitudes towards it. My heart was broken as I thought about my two little children, sitting with me on that chair by the window as we had our Quiet Time. Thinking of what their future would be under a Clinton Presidency, and what that certainly would entail. My heart was broken. And then, He showed me the morning glories. Three beautiful morning glories and we read that morning the story of David and Goliath and of how the Lord silenced the threats of the enemy with a stone. I felt encouraged. 

And my heart was lifted up by the examples of other believers--some very close to me in my family who were praying earnestly and believed that the Lord would be gracious. Encouraged by the example of some Christian leaders like Franklin Graham, Eric Metaxas, and Wayne Grudem, among others. Encouraged by the witness of our friend William Levi and his family --who demonstrated a strong faith that the Lord would answer the prayers of His people and allow a Trump Presidency, even though it seemed like the odds were against him.

The Lord heard our prayers. The Lord heard the prayers of His people. My heart is filled with so much joy, it is difficult to contain it! I knew the Lord impressing upon my spirit that many--a remnant--were praying and fasting before the Lord about this election. I believed, (at times with a weak hope) that He would answer. He directed me through the time coming up to the election in His Word as I prayed about this to passages that directed me to hope that He would answer the prayers of His people and allow a Trump/Pence leadership. I felt strongly hopeful at times, and then I would see and read about what was going on in social media and become disheartened. But then, He would continue to strengthen my hope through His Word.

I was led by the Holy Spirit to encourage other Christians to vote for a Trump/Pence ticket. I felt nervous about doing so, as I knew that I would come under fire for such a position, but I obeyed the Lord anyway--only by His grace. I could not understand how believers whose concern was a "clean" candidate were casting their vote for a Mormon man (whose doctrines oppose everything that we believe as Christians) who was trying in some small way to sway the results of the election. I came under attack from other believers, I lost "likes" on my page, but I had decided in the beginning when I began my blog that I could not write to please men. If I did, it was not worth writing. That decision early on, has helped to strengthen me through the years to remain focused upon what I believe that the Lord is saying to me to write, no matter the disapproval from other Christians. He has been gracious to me. And this is why I obeyed the Spirit of the Lord regarding this issue and didn't stay silent. 

But I am grateful, so grateful for the other believers who have come up alongside me and encouraged me regarding this election. I am grateful for their prayers, their comments, their hope in our faithful God. 

So many believers across the nation, and possibly in other countries fasted and prayed in the days before the election. Our family joined them, and we experienced the blessing of the Lord answering our prayer in a truly miraculous way. 

The day before the election, the media was reporting a certain win for Hillary Clinton. I was weary and discouraged, trying to hold on to hope. 

And then there was a point yesterday, when I surrendered to God my anxiety over a Clinton Presidency. I accepted it if it were to happen. A strong peace flooded my heart, and I had hope in Him. 

I didn't listen to the news until later that night; at that point I was expecting to hear that Hillary Clinton was winning easily. 

But when we listened, she wasn't. 

And the rest is history.

The rest is a miracle.

The rest is God answering the prayers of His humbled people. 

I am so grateful to the Lord. I praise Him with all of my heart. 

He is truly a merciful Father who does not treat us as our sins deserve.

Because we deserved a Hillary Clinton Presidency.

And yet He gave grace.

Hallelujah. 

And so I pray that we will use this opportunity, this mercy to spread the Gospel while we still have time left. The darkness is surely coming.  

But the morning, for us now, is at hand. Our citizenship is in Heaven; and yet, He has placed us here surely for a reason--for this time. So may we spread the great news of His salvation to the nations with joy. 

And remember that He has been good to us. 

You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Sharing His Beauty Blog Linkup, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday