Basics I Knew Our Children Had to Learn

By Billy Graham

1. Learn the difference between right and wrong. It takes more character to do right over wrong. Everyone needs to learn rules for living.
2. Honesty is rewarding. A good conscience is worth more than millions. Honesty is related to happiness.
3. Suffering is part of life. Hardships are a part of normal living. Complainers do not get very far in life.
4. Self-discipline is a good thing. Discipline is the road to success.
5. There is a God is heaven. The best way to teach is by example.
6. Finish what you start. Winners never quit and quitters never win.
7. Love is a necessary part of living. Got to learn to love God, family and others.
8. Sin displeases God. Disobedience hurts God, others and yourself.
9. Becoming a follower of Jesus is the goal of life. Jesus has a personal plan for everyone.
10. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit are necessary for living out God’s will.

Prayer for My Kids

Several from our Stone Creek Church family requested the sample prayer I have prayed over my children and now grandchildren. I wanted to list it for you along with a great article I read a long time ago from Billy Graham. Please know you are loved greatly, Papa G

“Lord, I pray for Jimmy/Stacy that he/she will have the spirit of Daniel and the three Hebrew children: an excellent spirit and skill in learning, wisdom and knowledge in all sciences.

I pray he/she will increase and grow mentally, physically, spiritually and socially.”

And for Stacy I would add, “Lord, help her to take things and ponder them in her heart; give her a spirit like Mary.” Based on Luke 2:51

Prayers based on Daniel 1:4, 8-9, 17 5:12, 14 and Luke 2:52



Stacy's dedication in Pekin, Illinois

6 hours of driving for 5 hours together!

Yesterday I was blessed with one of my sons in the faith, Carlos Ortiz from Dallas, TX.

He was at a Round Table meeting in St. Louis, MO and then drove three hours here to just hang out. We had steak together, a fun meeting at a local pastor friend’s church anniversary celebration, and then hung out at my house until midnight!

He drove the three hours back to St. Louis and then flew back home by nine this morning! Wow, the things we do for friendship and spiritual fathers/sons! I was so blessed and encouraged and Carlos was too.

Here are some quick thoughts on friendship and the relationship that spiritual fathers and their spiritual children have:

● Spiritual fathers/children lift each other up. We all get down and under heavy burdens. Without others to lift us up, we can’t make it.
● Spiritual fathers/children let each other out. Some people like to release the wolves on us. But we all need those who will let us out, regardless of whether we are totally on our game or not.
● Spiritual fathers/children pull each other away. What I mean is we need those who pull us away from the mundane and keep us living our dream.
● Spiritual fathers/children lead each other in. We lead each other into avenues of service and truth. We lead each other higher in God.
● Spiritual fathers/children look each other up. We call each other, get together--even drive 6 hours like Carlos did just to spend 5 hours with me!
● Spiritual fathers/children labor with each other. We cannot live withdrawn to ourselves. If we do we miss out and become deceived in some way.

Be encouraged and know you are loved, Papa G.

Antioch Prayer Model

Dear Sons and Daughters,
Here is a way to pray for your church/youth group/ministry. Trust it is a blessing!
Love you much and wish the best for you,
Papa G.


The Church at Antioch is an example of what God wanted the Church to be. Look at Acts 11:19-30 and pray that you would model the Church at Antioch by:

1) Being a “Cutting Edge” church (vv. 19-20)
2) Being an “Evangelistic” church (vs. 21)
3) Being a “Discipling” church (vv. 22-24)
4) Being a “Generous” church (vv. 27-30)
5) Being a “Word” church (Acts 13:1)
6) Being a “House of Prayer” church (Acts 13:2)
7) Being a “Missions Minded” church (Acts 13:3)

It’s Good to Be Reminded:

Sorry I’m behind of blogs but I had the joy of speaking to youth pastors for Paul Hinzman (Illinois District Youth Director) at a meeting in Carlinville, Illinois a few weeks ago and here’s what I shared. To all my sons and daughters please know you are loved, believed in and prayed for!

Here are some things that are good to be reminded of that I hope gives you some strength & encouragement.

Always good to be reminded that faithfulness produces results.
One of the works (fruit) of the HS is faithfulness (see Gal. 5:22-23) and you know a life verse of mine is Hebrews 10:36 “But you have need of endurance so that after you have done the will of God you may obtain the promise.” There is a Living Bible verse that says, “Steady plodding brings prosperity.” There may be lots of ‘talent’ things I cannot do, but I can be faithful—and so can you.

I heard Dr. CM Ward say one time that all it takes for a miracle to happen is to “just show up.” He was talking about the children of Israel and the miracle of multiplication that took place every day with the quail and manna and all they needed to do for the miracle to take place was to just show up and gather it in.

Missionary Karla Weise told Bonnie and I a story about a woman who prophesied over her in the days when her husband Paul planted a great church in Batavia, Illinois. The lady said it takes more faith to endure than overcome. Wow, that is a great word! Sometimes being faithful seems very unspiritual but I need to remind you it is the stuff that produces great results!

Our former Illinois Superintendent (Bishop) Ernest Moen used to say what it takes to produce a fruitful work is to “Preach, pray & plug away.” Certainly we are all tempted to quit but the rewards of faithfulness & longevity are so great! The old adage says, a great oak tree is just a little nut that stood its ground!

Always good to be reminded of our calling & words God has given us
For me I have to visit a vision God gave me at youth camp after I graduated from high school to keep the call of God fresh in my life. When I first came to Stone Creek the Lord gave me some great promises in Zech. 4:10, Joel 2:25, Haggai 2:9-10, Ezk. 36:11. You have to get some words for your life and ministry and then remind yourself of them regularly!

When the Lord first called me as a teenager He made John 15:16 and 1 Thess. 5:24 so real. I re-visit them ALL THE TIME to stay fresh. There are times when I’m discouraged that these verses are my life-line. Sometimes in prayer I say to the Lord, “I love you & you're stuck with me.” He is a father to me and somehow I make it another day—and so can you.

Always good to be reminded that we serve a supernatural God who still does supernatural things
Heb. 13:8 says “Jesus Chrst is the same yesterday, today and forever.” In January of 1970 I was healed of about an inch spot of tuberculosis—He supernaturally did that for me—and He will do the same for you. When I came to Urbana the second Sunday of April 1988 the Lord gave us our first salvation here on May 1—a cute little teenager who is now married and still in the church with her family! It took us nine months to break the 100 attendance barrier—it was so exciting! The church was a financial mess and some people began to give literally thousands of dollars at a time! It was all supernatural for me/us.

I want to remind you that the God you serve is supernatural and still does supernatural things. In Ex. 12 He supernaturally led Israel out of Egypt. And remember when God enabled Elijah to supernaturally outrun Ahab’s chariot! Supernaturally our God parted the Red Sea and supernaturally the walls of Jericho fell flat! And supernaturally the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead!

When I was a youth pastor in Central Illinois God supernaturally gave me a burden to pray everyday for missionaries David & Julie Leatherberry. I have tried to be faithful to this all these years. If you know the Leatherberrys or have read their book "Afghanistan My Tears" you know how God has so supernaturally moved in their lives. This includes waking up in the middle of night and having a breakthrough for David in learning the Pashtun language! He says God helped him supernaturally!

Whatever situation you are in I want to remind you that God will do supernatural things for you! He will.

Always good to be reminded that it’s all about relationships (relational theology).
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching" Heb. 10:25.

"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled" Titus 2:5 .

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction" 2 Timothy 4:2.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" 1 Thess. 5:11.

I want to remind you that what we are doing is all about relationships—right relationships. Whatever network you are a part of it is your calling to partner with others. The Apostle Paul talked about partnering with others all the time! Being a part of a denomination or church fellowship is like being married—there are things you have to do not because you want to (like vacationing with your mother-in-law) but you do it because you are committed to your marriage relationship.

When you are committed to relational theology you spend time and money to be a part of meetings and programs (even if they are sometimes like vacationing with your mother-in-law!). I am speaking prophetically to my spiritual sons and daughters now. I must remind you to not be a hypocrite! I know that is strong but I speak with love in my heart for you life, ministry and future.

You want people to participate in your program but you are not faithful to participate in the programs and meetings of the network God has put you in. Remember, we reap what we sow. I am convinced the next step for some of you is to practice relational theology and not just preach about it. Selah.

Love you and want the best for you—really. Papa G.

Out of the Box

Got to be at our youth groups (Sudden Impact) retreat last weekend and had a blast. We got crazy ‘dancing’ and praying with some wonderful teenagers a week ago Friday night at Little Galilee Camp outside Clinton, Illinois. Congrats to Ricky Spindler our Student Ministries pastor along with his great leadership team for a job well done! As I shared with the students at the end here’s what came to me about “Living Outside the Box (the camp theme):

Make right decisions. Life is all about making right decisions and avoiding wrong ones. There is a passage in the old Living Bible that says, “He grants the godly ones the ability to make the right choices every time.”
Being godly means to really go after God in every area of life. I shudder inside at times when I think about how close I have come a few times to making wrong decisions. Thank God for good council and friendships that has helped me over the years make right choices.
Deciding to not praise the Lord is a wrong decision. Deciding to praise the Lord is a right decision. Deciding to not obey your parents is a wrong decision. Deciding to praise the Lord is right decision.

Make right friendships. 1 Cor. 15:33 says, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Hang around winners and you will be a winner. Hang around losers and you will be a loser. Hang around negative people and you will be negative. Hang around positive people and you will be positive.
Don’t let people run your life. You make your life count and the best way to do that is by being with the right friends. Dropping friends can be a super touch choice but it just might save your life!

Make right commitments. There is a Proverb that says, “Commit your way to the Lord and He shall bring it to pass.” Do not be afraid to make commitments because it is the only way to live the Christian life.
Making right decisions, friendship and commitments is life outside the box. It is living life to the max!

These thoughts are good for us in ministry and for my sons and daughters working in the Kingdom. May you be encouraged—I believe in you! Papa G.

Let's Talk About Grace

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10-11 NKJV).

Thank God for His grace—because we all need it! Here are some definitions of grace I’ve run across over the years:
-James Strong: “The Divine influence upon the heart and the reflection in the life.”
-Bill Gothard: “An active force within us, giving us the desire and the power to do things God’s way.”
-Apostle Paul: “…a good work in you…” Phil. 1:6
-Noah Webster: “Unmerited Divine assistance given for man for his regeneration or sanctification.”

During a noon prayer meeting in our Café one time, I felt inspired at the end as we prepared for Communion to share some thoughts on grace. There was a lady who was just coming to use the prayer room and saw all the cars in the lot and wondered what was going on. She came in and was delighted to find a prayer meeting in progress. The word on grace was exactly what she needed to deal with some trials in her life.

This illustrates how God is always faithful to minister to us when we earnestly reach out to Him in prayer during our time of needs. I want to encourage any of you going through a difficult time to lean heavy on God’s grace. Pray the above definitions of grace for your life and what you are going through and see what God does.

Until we have real revelation of grace, the Christian life and Christian ministry will be a chore and very difficult. Of course there are burdens and difficulties but when God’s grace is at work in our lives there is a deep joy and energy that comes directly from Him! 

Dr. Charles Brown shares this simple outline on grace:
1. GRACE HAPPENS. It comes through relationship, not rules or reason. As we grow in our love for Jesus we grow in grace!

2. GRACE HAPPENS IN JESUS. Grace motivated everything He did. He was ‘grace-soaked.’ Cool, let’s all pray to be grace-soaked!


3. GRACE HAPPENS IN THE CHURCH. Wouldn’t it be great if the first thing we think about when we think about church is grace? If you haven’t read Phillip Yancey’s book What’s So Amazing About Grace? --please at least read the first chapter and the illustration about the prostitute on page 11! It seems to me evangelical and Pentecostal churches are full of truth but little grace and liberal churches are full of grace but little or no truth. The Scripture says, Jesus was full of grace and truth. That should our goal.

4. GRACE HAPPENS IN ME. If you are struggling today please allow God’s grace to work in your heart. Have you ever asked for more grace? Do it now. The NIV of 1 Peter 5:10 says ‘But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

Thank God for His amazing grace. He loves you more than you could ever know.

Love to my spiritual sons and daughters, Papa G.

PS Congratulations to Wayne & Kristi Northup and the whole team of Answering the Cries Ministries for the best Mardi Gras Outreach ever! And thank you so much for letting me be a part. What an incredible team of young adults at the MG this year! Best ever!

PSS After spiritual highs come the lows. Wish I would have written this blog sooner but make sure you rely on God’s grace to see you through the lows just like you relied on His grace during MG.