“When Christmas is Hard” – Biblical Advice from Billy Graham

Peanut Gallery: Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation – to get ready for the Coming of Christ. It’s a season to joyfully prepare our hearts and homes to receive “God with us” – Emmanuel. It’s a time to remember Jesus’ humble birth and look forward to His glorious return.

But for many people – with broken hearts and homes – it can also be a tough time of year.

In this re-posted article, Billy Graham offers practical help for those dealing with difficulties during this season. The “good news” is – there’s still over two weeks to work on some of these suggestions… follow the links. You still have time to enter into the joy of the season.

Take advantage of them.. and/or pass them on to a friend in need. You’ll be glad you did. And so will your friend.
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“When Christmas is Hard” – Biblical Advice from Billy Grahem

December 7, 2012 – Billy Graham has shared practical, biblical advice for dealing with holiday-related difficulties. – click on link.

When Christmas is Hard In the middle of the “most wonderful time of the year,” many of you are facing a dilemma or difficulty. You may have a strained relationship with one or multiple family members. Perhaps you’re lonely or grieving a loss and the holidays are particularly painful for you. Or, this is the busiest time of the year and you dread the rat race that often accompanies this season.

Whatever the case may be, we want to provide you with resources to help guide you through this season’s difficulties in a biblical way. Below, you will find some family- and holiday-related questions people have asked Billy Graham over the years, along with his answers.

Help the Lonely
This Christmas was very hard for me. Most of my relatives are gone now (including my husband), and the few I do have are either too old or live too far away, so I was completely alone. Please tell people to reach out to lonely people during holidays, because it’s hard for them.
Be a friend »

Can’t Afford Gifts
My husband lost his job recently and we really can’t afford to give people as much for Christmas this year as we have in the past. But I’m afraid we’ll offend them if we cut back too much. I know this isn’t a spiritual question, but how should we handle this?
Don’t go into debt »

Hectic Holidays
I know Christmas is still some weeks away, but I’m already getting uptight about it. It’s always such a hectic time and we always end up spending far more than we planned to. To be honest, I don’t really enjoy Christmas any more, although I know I ought to. Continue reading ““When Christmas is Hard” – Biblical Advice from Billy Graham” →

Rev Billy Graham Calls Christians to Repentance and Prayer in Wake of Election – Public Catholic

<strong>Rev Billy Graham Calls Christians to Repentance and Prayer in Wake of Election

Billy Graham wrote a letter to America after the election this week which I think is worth reading for all of us. He calls Christians to repentance and prayer. He asks us specifically to pray for America, for our leaders and for one another.

He also announced that he and his son, Franklin Graham, are starting a ministry called New Hope. They plan to “bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every possible place in America” during the next year.

This dovetails so well with the Year of Faith and the New Evangelization inaugurated by the Holy Father that I believe it signifies the Holy Spirit, speaking with one voice through the people He has given us as shepherds. It is time for Christians to unite and stand for Christ together. I feel the leadership to do this is stepping forward. It is up to us to be wise followers.

Here is Billy Graham’s letter in full. You can read more about it at Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

A Fresh Vision for America

BILLY GRAHAM CALLS NATION TO REPENTANCE AND LASTING HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST

November 8, 2012 – A day after turning 94, Billy Graham writes: “I plan to spend the next 12 months, if God permits, doing all that I am able to do in helping to carry out a fresh vision God has given us —a vision to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every possible place in America by the time of my 95th birthday.”

At the climax of My Hope one year from now, if God enables me, I want to call the entire nation to repentance and lasting hope in Jesus Christ.

From the Desk of Billy Graham

All of us care a great deal about our country. The intensity of opinions and feelings during the long political campaign showed the depth of that concern.

Now with the votes counted, it is important to remember that whether we are personally pleased with the outcome or not, God wants us to pray for those chosen to be our leaders—at the national, state, and local levels. The Bible urges us to do so with both respect and thanksgiving (see 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:1–3).

We must also remember that no election will ever solve America’s most basic problems. That is because the trouble, at its root, is in the human heart, and the only path to true restoration—for a person or for a nation—is through repentance. The Bible says, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19–20, ESV).

Only the Gospel, God’s Good News, has the power to change lives, heal hearts, and restore a nation.

I want that to happen in America, and I know you want that as well. I turned 94 on the day after the election. Although my age and health have limited me physically in recent years, I plan to spend the next 12 months, if God permits, doing all that I am able to do in helping to carry out a fresh vision God has given us—a vision to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every possible place in America by the time of my 95th birthday. It’s called My Hope, and I pray that you will partner with us.

In the days of the Prophet Jeremiah, God commanded His people to “seek the peace and prosperity” of the land where He had placed them and to “pray to the Lord for it” (Jeremiah 29:7, NIV). I ask you to join me in committing the next 52 weeks to faithful, even fervent, prayer for this land in which we live. You can start by making a list of people you know personally who need Jesus Christ and then begin praying regularly for them, individually by name.

Pray also for your neighborhood and your city, asking God to bring men, women, teens, and children —people from your own community—to Himself during the next 12 months. And pray along with me for the nation, asking God for mercy on America and for a great spiritual awakening.

My son Franklin is spearheading this vision and outreach, working in partnership with thousands of churches across every state in the country (ask your pastor if your church plans to take part). Franklin will be sending you more details on how this will work through the coming months and how you can participate.

At the climax of My Hope one year from now, if God enables me, I want to call the entire nation to repentance and lasting hope in Jesus Christ. The message I give will be presented in a fresh format, different from preaching at a Crusade, but the same Gospel. I believe we will see God work in a mighty way.

It is my passionate, heartfelt desire to see God change hearts and lives in every community in America, and I pray He will stir the same desire in you.

Will you join Franklin and me in this bold venture?

May God bless you,

Join the Discussions of the Year of Faith

Click here throughout the Year of Faith, as the Catholic Channel at Patheos.com invites Catholics of every age and stripe to share what they are gleaning and carrying away from this gift of timely focus.

by Rebecca Hamilton, patheos.com November 11th 2012

Billy Graham: The Sin of Tolerance

The Sin of Tolerance

CHRISTIANS MUST BE AWARE OF COMPROMISE

October 1, 2012 – In some things Christ was the most tolerant, broad-minded Man who ever lived, but in other things He was one of the most intolerant

Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it ~ Matthew 7:14

by Billy Graham

At home and abroad, the American people plead for broad-mindedness, tolerance and charity. Abroad, our ambassadors use all of their powers to influence warring parties to come to the conference table in a spirit of give-and-take. There is a sense in which the world needs broad-mindedness and tolerance.

However, in the realm of Christian experience there is a need for intolerance. In some things Christ was the most tolerant, broad-minded Man who ever lived, but in other things He was one of the most intolerant.

Tolerance Can Become Too Stretched

One of the pet words of this age is tolerance. It is a good word, but we have tried to stretch it over too great an area. We have applied it, too often, where it does not belong. The word tolerant means liberal and broad-minded. In one sense, it implies the compromise of one’s convictions, a yielding of ground upon important issues.

We have become tolerant about divorce, the use of alcohol, delinquency, wickedness in high places, immorality, crime and godlessness. We have been sapped of conviction, drained of our beliefs, and we are bereft of our faith.

The sciences, however, are narrow-minded. Continue reading “Billy Graham: The Sin of Tolerance” →

“Eat Mor Chickin” – Aug 1st – Billy Graham

Courageous ‘Chickin’ Fuels Culture War
TRUETT FAMILY STANCE ON BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE SPARKS CONTROVERSY

July 30, 2012 – When Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy affirmed his stance on the sanctity of traditional marriage, advocates of same-sex marriage loudly voiced their opposition. Now both Billy Graham and Franklin Graham have issued statements expressing support for the Cathy family’s values, as well as urging people to visit Chick-fil-A on Aug. 1.

The people who know their God will display strength and take action (Daniel 11:32, NASB).

by Janet Chismar

It seems that a group of mischievous cows with poor spelling skills—or a lowly chicken, depending on your preferred logo—has become the latest symbol of America’s cultural divide.

When Dan Cathy, president and chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, affirmed his stance on the sanctity of traditional marriage, same-sex marriage advocates loudly voiced their opposition and called for Americans to boycott the restaurant.

Days later, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee responded by calling for a National Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day on Wednesday, Aug. 1, an action supported by both Billy Graham and Franklin Graham.

In a statement issued July 26, Billy Graham said he supported his “good friends Truett Cathy and his son Dan Cathy, and their strong stand for the Christian faith.

“Each generation faces different issues and challenges,” said Mr. Graham, “but our standard must always be measured by God’s word. I appreciate the Cathy family’s public support for God’s definition of marriage.” Continue reading ““Eat Mor Chickin” – Aug 1st – Billy Graham” →

Billy Graham Says His Heart Aches for ‘Deceived’ America

“Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone – except God,” Graham says. “Yet the farther we get from God, the more the world spirals out of control.”

“My heart aches for America and its deceived people,” Graham continues. “The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of mercy, and He responds to repentance. In Jonah’s day, Nineveh was the lone world superpower – wealthy, unconcerned, and self-centered. When the Prophet Jonah finally traveled to Nineveh and proclaimed God’s warning, people heard and repented.”

Please click on this link for Billy Graham’s Pastoral Letter in its entirety –

Billy Graham Says His Heart Aches for 'Deceived' America.