Pastor Billy’s Thoughts

What a thrill it was to my heart to find so many within the fellowship joining on this journey…I am not sure how many are doing the fast…I know there are many!  With all the prayers going up…the many fasting…God has to speak to us! 

I do not think I had truly felt the change until this morning.  I told Valerie that I could tell that I did not have my energy this morning preaching…just simply did not have the strength that I normally do…it has been said that one message preached take the equivalent of eight hours work…today I felt that…but…this I know…God is faithful and He truly was this morning..

We have two weeks left.  It seems like a short amount of time to enjoy what I must say that I am completely enjoying.  Enjoying?  I know that sounds strange, but the feeling of submission to God over my will, the feeling of listening clearer and preparing for His miracles…YES YES YES, I am enjoying!

Together we are doing this, together we will experience His blessings.  I am praying for you, and you continue to pray for me.  Together we are the Church, the body of Christ, preparing for our Groom to return!

Pastor BillyÂ

I think everyone that was at Church last night can testify to what is happening…God is moving in a very special way and I truly believe that it is a direct result of the fasting.  The Holy Spirit moved in His house last night…I expect testimonies of healing and miralces to come forth…

Today was good…but I have to be honest and say that I think the liquid fast was easier than the Daniel Fast.  Tonight I ate a veggie burger…have always wanted to try one…what can I say…interesting!!!

My heart continues to grown for a move of God.  Not just a quick service, but a soverign move of the Holy Spirit that brings us to the altars in the middle of worship and leaves us in the presence of a mighty God.  Let each of us pray and believe for that kind of a move this coming Sunday…

Love each of you and praying for God’s voice to be heard.

Pastor Billy

Today was so much better…I must be honest.  I feel as if my mind, body and soul  are going through a cleansing process…the day passed quickly…but yes, the smells were everywhere….

Tonight we stopped at Publix on our way home…as we got out of the car we could smell the mexican restaurant all the way to the other side of the parking lot…Val looked at me and said “have you ever smelt it like that”…I have to be honest…no, I have not.  In the midst of the fast, things seem to be getting more “recognizable”…in simple terms my sight is better, my “smeller” is better, my hearing is sharper…it is all changing…hearing the voice of the one I fast for!!!!

I hope that each of you are taking time to pray during the day…it matters….leaving the TV behind and spending all that extra time with the Lord makes HIS food so much better…

Tomorrow evening…I might try to fix something to eat after 6:00 that works with the Daniel Diet…if you have anything…bring it on…lets celebrate this time together…with testimonies of victory!  No, no promises of dinner…do not know if I can even do anything besides veggies…but who knows….

Love you all,

Billy

I wish that I could write tonight and tell you that I am not hungry…feeling nothing…just life is normal…but I have to be honest…really did realize how much we focus on food today…and how much time is spent wasted on “food”…yes, we are learning!

I think Sunday I heard the best one from a member of The Refuge…he told me to have everyone bring all the money in that they are saving from food and put it on the building fund…it would be a double blessing…after 21 days everyone will have lost so much weight that we can put two people in a seat…and have money for the building fund!  LOL

Many have asked about the list for the “Daniel Diet”….here is the link    http://danielfast.wordpress.com/daniel-fast-food-list/

I know that this is a first for many of you…and I want to congratulate you on this endeavor…together we will experience what God has to say to The Refuge.  I am exctied about the testimonies we are going to hear…lets make this a week for physical miracles…I am believing for it…will you join me?

Love you all and praying for you…

BillyÂ

Dear Friends:

Tuesday morning and they are out here putting in electric and the roof is finishing up!  What an exciting time it is here at The Refuge!  If you have time come and be a part of the work and excitment..

Beginning this Thursday at 8:00 am, Ed Bradley will be teaching The Lord’s Prayer during our prayer time…let each of us come and grow together…

Love you all.

BillyÂ

I just came into the office and the group is out here working.  The roof is going on, the windows are sitting here and so much work is being accomplished.  What a great Church family we have, pulling together and getting it done!

We had a wonderful day yesterday.  Just remember this “It will be o.k.”, I have been hanging on to that!

Love you all…see you on Wednesday night and do not forget….it will be o.k.!

BillyÂ

Today is thanksgiving.  I am sitting in Kansas City in my mother’s house, looking outside at the gentle snow cover that is blanketing the ground.  I must admit the snow is beautiful, the air is cold and I am inside.  Can you beleive that on Tuesday it was 74 degrees here and by Wednesday it was 34 and snowing! 

Things change.  Sometimes things change very fast.  Life changes, the weather changes, everything changes and change is no respector of persons…have you noticed?

In the midst of all the changes in life I have found that there are very few constants.  Friends seem to come and go, jobs change, the gas prices keep going up and our money is changing…it seems everything.  But what I am most thankful for is the constants in my life; those things that will never change…

1. Jesus loves me and will always be there for me.

You see my list is short…I tried to make it longer….I really did!  As I was sitting here thinking about it I realized that my family loves me, but sometimes things even in families change, I realized that I was so thankful for my Church family, but that changes.  Do you happen to see a trend here?  EVERYTHING changes except one thing…

Jesus loves you and will never change.  He will be there at your highest and your lowest…he will love you in your failures and your accomplishments.  He will stick with you when no one else will….so why do so easily forget him on Thanksgiving?

I want to encourage you today to simply remember the one that we are the most thankful for.  As you gather around the table today and eat, laugh and celebrate…take time to remember the one constant that will be there next year and every year after.  Remember that He loves you and will always love you…

We love you all…and pray that you have the greatest Thanksgiving ever…

Billy

I sat this morning listening to the news; I must admit it caught my ear.  I listened as the newscaster began to talk obout our governor and then interview people who said that they were embarrased.  Embarrased because our governor asked us to pray for rain.  Embarrassed because they said that it made Georgians look ridiculous, unintelligent…actually God-fearing!  I listened and then began to ask one simple question, is this an opporutnity to show who we really believe in?

 We need rain.  There is no doubt in anyone’s mind…we need rain!  Who do we truly beleive controls the rain?  Who do we beleive actually performs the miracles?  If we do, lets ask!

I am asking all of us to take the rest of this week and pray for rain.  Let’s go to the one who controls the wind and rain and ask Him to take care of this situation.  I do not know about you, but I am going to pray and take my umbrella with me.  Do you want to join me…do you really beleive….come on….let’s pray it on down!

BillyÂ

Dear Friends:

What a wonderful day we had on Sunday…but then again…I think every Sunday is AWESOME!

We gathered on Sunday evening to unveil the new building plans.  If you were not able to be there you can see them on the website (watch the video).  My heart was thrilled as I listened to the excitement in the voices of those that had gathered.  They hear the call, see the future and are ready to follow!

You are going to begin to hear this phrase over the next few months…”Hear the call, See the Future”.  As I pray it seems that this is the phrase that the Lord keeps giving me…one that we are to hear from him and look beyond our means to where He is taking us..

I trust that you are all ready to listen and see….then move forward.  Together we will grow…together we will see many people come to a relationship with Jesus Christ.  This building is just a house for the Church…His body…we build for His glory…His purpose…Do you hear…Do you see?

Love you all.

BillyÂ

Tonight we were gathered at the Galleria Mall to talk about the new facilities…yes, we ate chick fil a and talked…we are all Christians…have to have food to talk!  LOL

As we sat there talking I listened to all the awesome ideas, visions and recommendations.  What a thrill it was to a pastor’s heart to hear the visions coming out…we need so much…and yet know that it is all going to come by us working together.  What a thought…a family working together and seeing God do a wonderful work within the body…it is happening!

I want to encourage all of us to take time to pray and seek God for His perfect direction concerning our new facilities.  There are so many decisions…so much to take into account…so much to pray about!  If we will pray… God will do His perfect will and we will accomplish His perfect will and see souls saved and lives changed for HIS glory.

One purpose…to bring the Love of Christ to Middle Georgia…lets not forget it…lets just simply do it!

BTÂ