Advocates for Bill and Terri ~ A Spiritual Exercise

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, QUOTES

This follow-up to a previous post, Words of Life ~ ADVOCATE, is a means to share how the Lord has been working in my heart the last few days, and to ask you to join me for a life-changing experience.

The Lord brought Bill and Terri into my life several months ago. Bill lives in the southwestern part of the USA and Terri in the eastern region. They have become advocates for each other.

As they have shared how God is working in their lives, I have become an advocate for them before the throne of grace.

If you know Bill and Terri, you can skip this part and go to the exercise. But it may be a good thing to review who and where they are.

Bill and Terri each live in a physical state of paralysis. Their conditions are similar but different in how they operate in that state. They are mindful of their circumstances and have learned to function and communicate with others in a gift of clarity most of us do not have. They are each a special gift to us who know them.

Bill
Bill, diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) over twenty years ago, has been preserved long past the average two-to-five year expectancy. The Lord has done a miraculous work in Bill for a witness of the Unshakable Hope he has in Christ. With Mary, his wife and principal advocate, Bill lives at home, functioning with modern equipment that moves him from and into his bed and chair. He writes with his eyes with a computer designed for this purpose. For his blog and book project, Bill is filled with the Spirit of God, influencing and encouraging people throughout the world to know and trust their lives to Christ. His hope is not in himself or anything of this world but only in the promises of eternity when he will have full use of his body and faculties to praise and serve the Lord.

Even though ALS has drastically changed my life and that of my wife and our two daughters, I don’t believe anyone should allow a disease or any life-challenge to define who we are.

To do so is to give that challenge more credit than it deserves and is the first step on a dead-end road of hopelessness.

This trial has taught us that the only way to experience genuine and consistent hope, peace, and joy in the middle of a trial is to view our lives and situations through God’s eyes. For me, learning this was a long and difficult process—but a rewarding one; an ongoing process that will continue until the day I go to be with the Lord.

Terri
Terri, from a fall in her kitchen, has been a quadriplegic since 2013, She is single and dependent on medical staff in a nursing facility. She, too, is a witness for Christ, and attends her church for worship. Terri has siblings and church family who are advocates in the capacity of which they are able. She uses some of the same equipment as Bill and by her voice, communicates through her computer. In these six years, dealing with other medical issues, she has spent time in ICU and been moved to other facilities which upset any rhythm in her life, causing depression and anxiety. From one of her blog posts, I quote the following.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5

No matter how frustrated, disgusted, or depressed, I get about being a quadriplegic, I know I’m where I am meant to be. I don’t have to understand why this happened. I only need to acknowledge that God is sovereign, loving, and good. And he doesn’t make mistakes.

Bill and Terri’s readers continue to encourage and support them. The greatest encouragement comes from Bill and Terri to us when we read what the Lord is doing in them.

A SPIRITUAL EXERCISE AS AN ADVOCATE

We cannot, as advocates for Bill and Terri, appeal with the strength of the medical equipment they need. Those things are already provided for them. The idea and the means for advocacy on their part is for the spiritual strength and grace they need to endure and triumph as witnesses for Christ as they are bound, imprisoned in their bodies.

They are teaching us what the world is like ~ paralyzed ~ and in need of a heavenly outpouring of the Spirit to move in His people.

Here is where we can be a part of an awakening in the body of Christ.

For the last few days, the Lord has uniquely led me to pray and intercede. At first, the thought was only for Bill and Terri. Then the blessings came for me, my family, my church, and the whole church worldwide.

Three things will come as a result of this exercise.

1. Bill and Terri will be strengthened in their witness of Christ.
2. We and other Christians will be strengthened in our witness for Christ.
3. God, our Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ will be glorified.

This exercise began when I awoke. I lay still as if paralyzed like Bill and Terri. Quietly I waited, arms at my sides, imagining their immovability; then, remembering Psalm 46:10 ~

“Be still, and know that I am God,”

I again waited ~ motionless.

Stillness is not easy in a world that is spiritually paralyzed. The body does not want this stillness and will not succumb to it except by His Spirit.

“I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

This exercise is an excellent means to realize that every breath is by His Spirit and through Christ alone.

The Spirit then moved me to the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”

Our whole of living moment by moment, day by day, is for this purpose. He wants us to know Him as our Father. Through us, He is exalted, honored, and His name hallowed in this world.

This prayer and this thought of His overall sovereignty and exaltation led me to ask for an outpouring of His Holy Spirit from His throne of grace to fill me and enable me to pray in the Spirit for power as an advocate for Bill and Terri.

From the Holy Spirit’s leading, then came the request for the Spirit’s filling for them. I prayed for the continual work in their lives to overcome in the battle against weariness, discouragement, uncertainty, depression, and anxiety. Among other requests, I prayed for the Lord’s filling and leading for Bill to finish his book.

There was a third request for the filling of the Spirit for His people everywhere. (You need facial tissue for this exercise.)

I went to the next petition, which the paralyzed body of Christ needs ~ asking for His kingdom to come in power by His Spirit, and His will to be done in the hearts and lives of His people everywhere.

“God hath made with me an everlasting covenant |
ordered in all things and sure,
this is all my salvation and all my desire.”
2 Samuel 23:5

Even as with David, this everlasting covenant revealed and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, is God’s means to establish His kingdom’s rule here on earth and His will to be operative in the hearts and lives of His people.

It is by His divine power that we destroy strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring every thought captive in obedience to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Before getting up to start my day, I finished petitions for which I usually ask. I asked for the Spirit to raise me and His people everywhere for the work He has for us to do ~ to be the moving witnesses Bill and Terri encourage us to be.

These are only the beginnings of what I have experienced in this new intercession.

During the day, this exercise can be done anywhere and anytime you can lie down, or even sit quietly and still ~ as you desire the Holy Spirit’s filling and moving in your heart and spirit for you, Bill, Terri, all who are ill or physically handicapped, and especially for the moving of God’s Spirit.

Teach your children and do this as a family exercise. Let this exercise displace some of the time you usually spend with your devices. Set your timers and stop and pray throughout the day.

If possible and you feel led, continue this exercise for a week. We may post some of the responses and address any concerns next week.

Advocates for Bill and Terri could become a movement in this world to bring an awareness of the need for God’s Spirit for all people. Let us share this need and call others to join this exercise of intercession for His glory.

Since getting to know Bill, and Terri, through her blog, emails, and my phone conversation with her, Jerry appreciates his wheelchair, and the use of his one leg though he has not been able to walk for over two years. It is amazing how your life can change when you are aware of the more significant needs of others.

Please share this with your Christian friends even as you become an advocate for Christ’s sake.

Gracious Father in heaven, Whom have we in heaven but thee and there is none on earth we desire beside thee. Draw your people to this intercession with understanding and the Spirit. Fill us and enable us to pray in the power and intercession of the Holy Spirit and Christ, our High Priest, who sits at your right hand calling us to Him, for thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Fran

19 thoughts on “Advocates for Bill and Terri ~ A Spiritual Exercise”

  1. Oh…my dear sister. I read this to my husband, who has a birth defect causing constant fractures in his back that return as quickly as the previous one heals. A herniated disk sits on a nerve which is slowly causing permanent damage. It can be very discouraging for him, he looks normal, most people can’t tell he’s in constant pain. He was so very encouraged by your post, as was I. I will, daily, join you in advocating for Bill and Terri. I’ll be sharing this across all my social media accounts as well. Thank you for sharing these two precious saints with us!

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  2. Hi Fran, thank you for sharing what you have been doing. I will follow your leading and get back to you in a week. I think you are so right about us all being paralyzed in this flesh, needing desperately the Spirit of Christ to flow through us. I took what you wrote and reworked it according to how I wanted to refresh my own heart and mind as I go through this. As per your last post, Christ is indeed our advocate and we also can and do serve as advocates for others. How I have reframed it slightly is for me, things that I want to be mindful of. I will include it here but am only doing so as info.
    ——————–

    BE STILL – ADVOCATES FOR BILL AND TERRI AND ALL GOD’S CHILDREN

    BE ABSOLUTELY STILL AND RECOGNIZE THAT ANY MOVEMENT THAT WE MAKE, EVEN BREATHING, IS BECAUSE OF GOD’S DOING. OUR VERY LIFE, PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL, IS IN HIS HANDS. BECAUSE HE IS, WE ARE.

    PSALM 46:10 “BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD”

    “I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE HEATHEN, I WILL BE EXALTED IN THE EARTH.”

    ACKNOWLEDGE GOD FOR WHO HE IS (OUR SOURCE FOR EVERYTHING) AND AS SUCH, IT IS ONLY RIGHT AND JUST THAT WE DO SO.

    “OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.”

    WHY – BECAUSE OF OUR FATHER’S GOODNESS AND SOVEREIGNTY AND OUR AWARENESS, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION OF THIS REALITY, THAT HE IS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF OUR LIFE AND EVERY GOOD THING.

    ASK GOD TO PROVIDE US WITH AN OUTPOURING OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT FROM HIS THRONE OF GRACE

    AND FILL ME, IN PARTICULAR, SO THAT I AM ENABLED, IN AND THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON JESUS, WORKING THROUGH ME, IN UNION WITH CHRIST, AS AN ADVOCATE FOR BILL AND TERRI.

    AND , IN UNION WITH CHRIST, AS AN ADVOCATE FOR BILL AND TERRI, THEN ASK GOD TO FILL THEM WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT SO THAT THEY ARE EQUIPPED TO OVERCOME THEIR BATTLE AGAINST WEARINESS, DISCOURAGEMENT, UNCERTAINTY, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY PLUS ANYTHING ELSE THAT HIS SPIRIT BRINGS TO OUR MIND, ALONG WITH GOD’S FILLING AND LEADING FOR BILL TO FINISH HIS BOOK.

    THEN PETITION GOD FOR AN INFILLING OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST FOR ALL OF HIS PEOPLE EVERYWHERE WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.

    JESUS SAID THAT HE DID NOTHING OF HIMSELF BUT THAT EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID AND EVERYTHING THAT HE DID, HE RECEIVED FROM THE FATHER. LIKEWISE, JESUS TOLD US THAT WITHOUT HIM, WE COULD DO NOTHING. GOD THE FATHER IS THE SOURCE OF ALL GOODNESS, THROUGH HIS SON, FLOWING THROUGH US, IN HIS SPIRIT.

    THEN PETITION GOD FOR HIS KINGDOM TO COME, IN POWER BY HIS SPIRIT AND THAT HIS WILL, WILL BE DONE, IN AND THROUGH THE HEARTS AND LIVES OF HIS CHILDREN EVERYWHERE.

    IT IS ONLY THROUGH HIS DIVINE POWER THAT WE ARE TO DESTROY STRONGHOLDS, CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS AND EVERY HIGH THAT EXALTS ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND BRING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST. ( 2 CORINTHIANS 10:4-5)

    (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;), casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring every thought captive in obedience to Christ. 
    2 Corinthians 10:4-5

    THEN FINISH ANY NORMAL PETITIONS I HAVE, INCLUDING ASKING FOR GOD’S SPIRIT TO RAISE ME AND OTHERS WITHIN HIS KINGDOM FOR THE WORK HE HAS FOR US TO DO AND TO BE IN TRUTH, THE MOVING WITNESSES THAT BILL AND TERRI ENCOURAGE US TO BE.
    ——————-
    Grace and blessings Fran and thank you again.

    Bruce

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    2. Dear Bruce, I praise the Lord for your willingness to intercede on behalf of Bill, Terri, and all His peopl. I am blessed that the Spirit has led you to make this exercise personal. Remember His everlasting covenant ordered in all things as promised to Abraham, sure to be fulfilled in every generation. His kingdom is coming continually and His will being done in the hearts and lives of His people according to HIs covenant of grace fulfilled in Christ. His Spirit is the power of His covenant working to reveal and fulfill His will in every generation. The Lord bless you as He fills you with His Spirit.

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  6. This is just beautiful and so encouraging. Thank you for your experiment to “be still” in your bed to better understand paralysis, to be still before God, and to pray. I am truly humbled and yet honored by this post. Thank you.

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  8. I love this so much! Bill and Terri are both so precious. ❤ I've been out of the loop lately – just too many things going on with my teens and my own health. I have such a burden to be involved in the lives of my girls right now, and I have several "semi-adopted" teens at their school whom I also enjoy investing in. But this I can do even when I'm laid up with a migraine! I'll join you!

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    1. Praise the Lord for your ministry. It is not surprising that you would be chosen to be a part of this special intercession. I pray for you and others who are continually dealing with health issues, remembering the former years when I suffered with migraines. The Lord is present and hears our prayeres, even our heart’s desires when we are still and quiet before Him. Much love, prayers, and blessings for you as you continue to serve Him.

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  10. Bill and Terri are both my heroes of the faith. I can confidently say, that Bill and Mary (Bill’s wife) have changed the way I view my faith. They have been BY FAR the biggest human influencers in my walk with the LORD. Been praying and will continue!!!!
    I only “met” Terri recently.

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    1. Praise the Lord for how He has used Bill, Terri, and many others through WordPress to bring others to a deeper faith in Him. It is amazing how He teaches and reaches others through our adversities. Pray that the Spirit will be poured out to others through our interecession for them.

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  12. Pingback: Blessings in Intercession – God's Grace ~ God's Glory!

  13. Hi Fran, first off, thank you. Being an advocate for Bill and Terri for a little over a week has changed the tone of my prayers. I’ve been lifting Bill up in my daily prayers for quite a while now but adding Terri just kind of double confirmed it all over again. I especially liked taking the time to be still and focusing on God and that our Father’s name is be hallowed. I’ve always loved that word because it says so much about our Heavenly Father and our rightful response to Him. It just kind of puts you in the right channel so to speak. And then the supplications, He is our source and we are so needful. Perspective changed somewhat, me and others became more balanced and at times I actually felt apologetic in asking things for myself. It’s been a trying couple of weeks what with my leg being quite painful but then I started to notice that it rarely bothered my sleep and even though there was some pain involved, it never got over the top and was manageable most of the time. And of course, my disposition also got called into question and when you stop to think what Bill and Terri have to contend with, not to mention, what Jesus went through for us, it changes one’s perspective. And the need for God’s Holy Spirit to be in all of us, refilling, guiding, comforting, etc, not just for Bill and Terri, although one can hardly even begin to comprehend their need and the beautiful exercise of their faith, but all of us, everyone, needs God living in us, desperately. So my prayers have changed, different approach, altered perspective and enhanced considerations. Bottom line is that I am thankful and I intend to keep on with the different approach and of course, continue lifting up Bill and Terri and all of God’s children, myself included. In essence, our reliance on God is much like Bill and Terri’s and that realization became a little clearer. Sometimes that realization is just overwhelming. So thank you Fran, Bill and Terri. Their struggle is also our struggle and their source is our source. Deeply indebted. God’s grace, peace and blessed guidance to all of you. – Bruce

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    1. Dear Bruce, you have verified the working of God’s grace in how He lives through us to bless us and others. I have not had the time to post all the benefits He has given during this special exercise in intercession. Years ago, the ministry of intercession was my only service to Him for His kingdom after years of puclic, over-active ministry in the church. For seven years the Lord gave me no other ministry as He brought me to Himself and taught me the meaning of true prayer. In Prayer and In Touch became a way of life in which He placed particular people in my life to pray and stay in touch with as I was praying and they were going though adversities. Practiced intercession brought me to a new way of life of which I continue to write. The Ministry of Intercession was a book I started but the actual life in intercession did not give me time to finish the book. It is a supernatural, spiritual life in fellowship with the Lord of life who desires to be the Source of that life in others. You have blessed this old heart and we pray the Lord’s continued blessings for yours.

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