12/20/2019
My Christmas Gift To A Very Special Group Of People
A Prayer For Those Going Through Divorce At Christmas
June 14th, 2013, was a very outstanding day in my life, of now 70 years. And, you say ...................?
Well, that was the day I married the most wonderful woman Father God YaHoVah could ever give a man.
Her name is Geneva Ruth. She is the most selfless (puts everyone else first) person I have ever met or seen. I have said many times, Geneva Ruth is the closest thing to a flesh and blood angel I have ever seen walk on this earth. I can find no greater words to speak or write, concerning Geneva Ruth. She is the Maximum, Mega, Mostess, Goodest! And that's it. She was Father God YaHoVah's best, year round, Christmas gift that could ever be given to a man. We have now had almost 7 years of being together, married and I'm loving it.
:-))
What I am about to say, below is to communicate to very special folks out there, what I have described and stated above, about my wonderful wife, is the way things are for me now. It is also to let you know, my joy, peace and happiness, in previous years, has not always been the way it is now.
The very special group of folks I am writing to are all the good (or bad) folks who are going through or experiencing "DIVORCE" here at, what I consider to be, the most wonderful time of the whole year. Why am I writing this, because it is Christmas and I like to give, even more-so than I like to receive. I can't give everyone of you a gift, but I can give you what I consider an e-gift (like in email or ebook).
Why do I feel for you folks? Well let me tell you a bit about one past Christmas in my life.
I was married to a woman for 13.5 years. We had pioneered and pastored (3) churches together, (1) in Mountain View, Missouri and (2) in Panama City, Florida. She was a singer, a song writer and a praise and worship leader. I ministered the Word and played guitar and piano for her and did backup vocals (harmony) with her. Thanksgiving Eve of 2007 was a day of infamy in my life. That was the last time I ever saw her. She chose to leave me and go to another man and did so. Needless to say, that produced a divorce. So, for the first time in my life, I spent Thanksgiving day, Christmas and New Years (my most favorite time of year) alone. All I could see was, my wife is gone forever, the ministry Father God YaHoVah placed in my responsibility is now gone and I can never get it back so I can never please my Father in Heaven.
Thanks be to Father God YaHoVah, He and Geneva Ruth said "NOT SO BILLY". I'm not through with you yet, I have some great things left for you to do.
He impressed my wonderful cousin and her husband to provide me a place to crash until I could get my head screwed on straight and tight again. (And I did. Thank you forever Gene and Vickie in Corinth, Texas).
So, to all of you who are going through this nightmare, at this time of year, I want to give you some good hope.
I know this is long but I believe its worth the read and, Lol, it's not nice to refuse a person's gift to you. (Just kidding but it will help you if you read it and apply it). Don't give up!!!!
Merry Christmas To You, My Friends
Divorce doesn’t have to be the crushing end to life or all Christmas traditions. Hope does not have to fade as the picturesque view of a familiar life wanes. Christmas is the celebration of the hope Jesus brought into the world with His infant cries.
Hope lives in Jesus-filled hearts.
1.) Don’t Let it (divorce) define You.
Both Christian and agnostic folks have an opinion about the right or wrong of marriages that end in divorce. The holiday season brings them all together and sits them down right in front of you with a stage to speak their truth. Don’t be defined by it or them.
“For God so loved the world (that's you my friend) that He gave His one and only begotten Son (Jesus Christ), that whosoever believes in him (the finished work of His experience on the Cross) shall not perish but have eternal or everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
When God says He loves you, He loves you. There’s "no if's, no and's no but's or unlesses” attached.
2.) Let it Go. (I know, I know, that's hard to do. Been there heard that).
Father God YaHoVah is pretty clear about the simplicity of Christianity, about accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior (because He is the only Savior that is possible to have. Our good works just don't cut it with Him). That’s it. But we are really good at adding stipulations to be worthy of the Christian title. Focus on God’s truth, which says if we confess our sins and repent (change our minds, Greek: Metanoia) of and about them (sins), we are forgiven of those sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Our mistakes will continue to accumulate until we meet God in Heaven. Become habitual about forgiving yourself and others, as Father God YaHoVah forgives you.
3.) Keep Moving
Gifts, Christmas parties, family visits, volunteering…etc. before beginning the motion of attacking each day’s to-do list, sit in the quiet morning and spend time with Father God YaHoVah. He is there in His Word waiting to apply His love to broken places and puzzles. Divorce can and does rub emotions raw, red raw and bleeding. Keep moving towards Father, and He will strengthen your motions, one day at a time. Do you want to know His will for you and your life, read His Word. It's all right there. Do you want to hear Father's voice, read His Word outloud. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.” (Psalm 28:7)
*****************Pray This Prayer With Me****************
Father, I praise You for Your powerful love that is beyond my understanding. You are always there for me. When the chill of winter takes my breath away, I am reminded of the power of Your Creation. Before the icy air hits the north, You signal the birds to fly. Knowing they are too delicate to survive the harsh freeze, You beckon them south.
Right now, it is divorce that threatens to steal my peace, my joy, my hope and my happiness, but You, Father, are here waiting with Your arms open… calling me to come to Your warm embrace in exchange for the chill of worldly reason.
This Christmas is hard. I don’t want to keep moving. I don’t want to let go. Who was I before two became one? I’m drowning, though I sit in a chair. They will all gather around this Christmas, and wonder if I’m falling apart. They will all want to share a piece of their broken heart, but I fear mine has no room left to receive…...........
none-the-less to give. There’s an emptiness in the traditions I once looked forward to. Yet, in the emptiness, I remember Jesus. Though blurred by tears of sorrow, I see my Savior. A tiny baby in a manger. And, He is enough hope to hold onto.
Thank you, Father, for Your protection and blessing and for the things that I only sense in the still of the morning, but cannot always see. My heart hurts, but I know You are there. Thank You for Your grace, forgiveness, and love… for new beginnings out of the ashes of old dreams, and warm memories to sweep over the darkness.
Father, You tell us that we are to confess and be forgiven. That all sins are equal in your eyes. Yet, in this world, it does not always feel that way. I confess the tendency to look around for answers before I look up to You for direction. Father, please help me to allow your forgiveness to wash over my heart and cleanse my soul as I let go. Please help me obediently follow Your guidance, through the pain of a marriage, once full of love and hope, and now broken to pieces.
Bless and heal my heart, in the places that I don’t even realize need attention. Pull out all bitterness, envy, malice, and strife. Soften both of our hearts as we separate what once brought us so much joy. It’s hard to understand how I ended up here, and I accept that I may never truly know why. I trust You with my heart and my life. My hope is in you. Help me to allow the power of Your Holy Spirit… Your Son… who dwells in me to bring the fresh hope of Christmas into my life, so I may keep moving as a witness of Your love to those placed around me. Thank You, Father God YaHoVah, for reminding me that I am ever-loved, and never alone. I pray and present all of this to you "In the wonderful name of Jesus’, Your only Begotten Son, Jesus, who died to free me and Whom You raised from the dead by the power of Your Holy Spirit that also lives in me and will also quicken and make me to live also.
Amen and Amen, So Be It!
Merry Christmas, Yall and a very Happy New Year!
your friend, in Jesus
Billy