February 21, 2018 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

The Loss of a Friend

It saddened me to hear of Reverend Billy Graham’s passing. I know he wanted to go home (he called heaven his home) and to be once again with his wife, Ruth. They both were such wonderful people and pillars in the Body of Christ.

I was saved at Billy’s first crusade in Fresno, CA. over 50 years ago, and I attended his second crusade in Clovis, which is in the Fresno area, a few years past. Every time I listen to Billy either in person or on TV the Holy Spirit would move me to tears. To listen to the truth of the gospel and hear the passion and sincerity in Billy’s voice changed my life for good each and every time.

Billy had such passion and a determination for everyone to make the same decision for Christ that he did as a young man. He would say that whenever he preached, “he felt the presence and power of God”—you could sense this if you were in the crowd listening to him.

I have read about his history in the book, Billy Graham, God’s Ambassador by Time/Life Books, 1999. (It is full of great stories and pictures—purchase a copy for your self—a must for everyone’s personal library!) You will find so many interesting facts that will amaze you and challenge your walk with Christ.

One thing that catapulted Graham into the ministry was his struggle to believe in and have the conviction that the Bible was true. That God’s word was completely and totally accurate and truthful. Once he accepted this fact about the Bible his life changed forever. The other fact was his experience with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. This happened to him during his crusade in Los Angeles that forced his ministry into the public arena.

God has a way of using what man has created for His glory. The west-coast newspapers gave Billy the push to become America’s minister to the entire world during his Revival in Los Angeles in the 1940’s.

There is a saying of Billy’s that has helped me over the years and I have enlarged upon it. I say this often to myself and especially when I am down or fighting to keep my head above the waters, I say out loud, “God loves me and Jesus loves me. Jesus, you are my friend and Holy Spirit, you are my strength.”

I say this to myself and/or to the circumstances around me many times during a day. I like to keep God close and Jesus even closer and it helps to keep my eyes on Him. It is my love for God and His love for me that makes being a Christian worthwhile.

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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