United We Stand In Honor

UNITED WE STAND

A Rare Glimpse of Unity to Honor Reverend Billy Graham

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of Team Mission Access! Yeah verily today our nation in mourning over the Homegoing of Reverend Billy Graham witnessed a miracle: UNITY!

Oh I could talk about being saved at a 1973 Billy Graham Crusade in Cleveland, Ohio. Or about how Billy personally preached to 200 million people over his more than 60 years in ministry. Perhaps I could wax eloquent on his humble casket made of plywood by prison inmates.

But just to make absolutely sure we once and for all “get it” that it’s not about any of that, Our Awesome Lord orchestrated one final miracle via Billy: A Congress United.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 NASB

The Good News for ALL was and is and is to come that Jesus Christ is Lord.  May that simple yet profound Truth Reunite Us once again.

Godspeed Reverend Graham! Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servant. We are eternally grateful for you.

In His Accessible Grace,

 

Linda

PHOTO SOURCE: https://media.fox5dc.com/media.fox5dc.com/photo/2018/02/28/BillyGrahamCapitolCeremony

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So What’s YOUR Legacy?

The Power Of Prayer by Charles Spurgeon

IMAGE SOURCE: goo.gl/4k224H

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of Team Mission Access!

What better way to continue our Legacy Series than to ask a very personal question:  So What’s YOUR Legacy?

Our focus is on a book by Charles Spurgeon entitled The Power Of Prayer.  How during my time studying at DTS did I miss this book?  Suffice to say I share this special podcast so YOU don’t miss an incredible opportunity to build YOUR Relationship with Him through focused & fervent prayer in 2018 and beyond.

Hey Look!  There are thousands of books on prayer!  Jesus even gave us His Lord’s Prayer.  But I simply do not believe that it was ever meant to be The Prayer To End All Prayers.  Far from it!  Rather it was designed as a firm foundation on which to help us build our own Personal Legacy of Prayer.

Happy Prayer Power Legacy Building, Team! 😊

In His Accessible Grace,

 

Linda

Happy New Legacy 2018

BUILDING HEARTS & HOMES WITH RELATIONSHIPS

Building Hearts & Homes Through Relationships

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of Team MissionAccess!  As we boldly forge ahead towards a Happy New Year 2018 I am blessed to share this vision of a Happy New Legacy born right here in Texas for People & Families Affected by Disability worldwide. 

In his book “Welcome Homeless: One Man’s Journey of Discovering The Meaning Of Home” successful businessman turned philanthropist Alan Graham shares his plan for creating a sustainable solution for People experiencing homelessness, many of whom are also challenged with disability. 

Rather than simply building houses he begins by building Relationships to fill our deepest yearning for Home that’s hard-wired into our hearts by God. 

Check out his video:   Community First! Village – A New Movement 

And stay tuned as we build together towards a Happy New Legacy in 2018 & beyond!

In His Accessible Grace,

 

 Linda

IMAGE SOURCE:  http://faithandlifebookstore.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/welcome-homeless.jpg

Opportunity Knocks! FALL 2017

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of MissionAccess.org!

FALL 2017 

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of Team MissionAccess!

As we Fall into Winter 2017 I am thankful for Faithful Followers like You who “Like” what we do and support us Exceeding Abundantly throughout the year.

Click here to find out more:  MA FALL 2017 OPPORTUNITY LETTER:  Leaving A Legacy 112917

Thanks For The Opportunity!

In His Accessible Grace,

 

Linda Thacker

Executive Director

Luther Nails It!

Happy Reformation Day!

IMAGE SOURCE: goo.gl/Ub4iUH

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of Team MissionAccess! Today marks the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Chapel and transforming the Church forever.

If Martln Luther had a Life Verse it would be:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

” For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Suffice to say that in the 1500 years since its birth the Church had wandered far from the Gospel. “Indulgences” were sold to pay down time spent in purgatory as the price for earthly sin. But Lo & Behold!  A humble monk named Martin Luther could remain silent no longer, releasing the power of The Word still resounding throughout our world today.

Eric Metaxas, in his new book Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God And Changed The Worldsimply cannot overstate the significance of Luther’s role in history.

So Rejoice this Happy Reformation Day 500 with Eric’s interview on The 700 Club:

In His Accessible Grace,

 

Linda

Legacy Series: Lisa Beamer

 

Homecoming Chapel 2016 at Wheaton College

Lisa Brocious Beamer IMAGE SOURCE: goo.gl/3ffDjk

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of Team MissionAccess! 

This month our Legacy Series features a closer look at what happens when Legacy is thrust upon us.  Every year on September 11 we reopen our surprisingly still-tender emotional wounds to relive—-yet again—what happens when our Faith collides with cold, hard, tower-toppling reality.  Scriptures abound for comfort & peace if only to help us drag ourselves through another day.  And doubtless millions found Jesus in the smoldering aftermath that fateful day.

But what happens over time? 

How does a loving yet Sovereign God relentlessly press forward with our never-ending Sanctification this side of Heaven to reshape us into the image of His Son & Our Savior Jesus Christ? 

Lisa Beamer, widow of 9-11 Hero Todd Beamer, now 15 years beyond that unthinkable day, reflects on how His Glory burns ever-brighter even as our collective memory fades. 

Be Encouraged by Lisa’s hopeful Homecoming Chapel 2016 at Wheaton College:

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He,

I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

(Isaiah 46:4 NIV)

In His Accessible Grace,

 

Linda

All Things

https://qz.com/1063639/how-to-help-houston-flood-victims-donating-and-volunteering-for-harvey-relief/

IMAGE SOURCE: https://qz.com/1063639/how-to-help-houston-flood-victims-donating-and-volunteering-for-harvey-relief/

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of Team Mission Access!  Delighted am I to welcome back Larry Thacker as our distinguished Guest Blogger yet again this month with his timely message entitled All Things.

Our home state of Texas is still reeling from devastating floods unleashed after Hurricane Harvey.  Tens of thousands of Texans have been forced to flee with just what they can carry.  Especially hard-hit are People & Families affected by Disability, many of whom are trapped in their homes waiting for help to arrive. 

Thankfully an Army of Volunteers with boats, bungees and brave bare hands is helping to Seek, Snatch & Save tens of thousands of families all along the battered coast. Praise God for them!

So how are we as Christians supposed to explain this ‘Act of God”?  Especially to those who lost everything?  I pray that Pastor Larry’s thoughtful message emboldens you to turn hearts to Jesus…even in the midst of the storm.

“ALL THINGS” WITH PASTOR LARRY THACKER 

In His Accessible Grace,

 

 

Linda

Snatch! Save. Repeat…

THE LATE GREAT CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON

IMAGE SOURCE: http://www.spurgeonministries.com/facilities/

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of Team MissionAccess! Let’s chat about something Christians simply LOVE to talk about, shall we? Let’s chat about Hell!

(insert awkward silence here)

Moved by a local news story about a 65-year old woman who died in a South Dallas house fire, her charred power chair could easily belong to so many people at Bartimaeus Baptist Temple (our home church for people and families affected by disability)– including me! This Hellish vision prompted my Bible Study focused on “fire” which led to this simple verse:

Jude 1:  22-23 NIV:  “Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

Expanding that search to the phrase “Christians Hell” I found only 13 verses!  Look up “Heaven” and there are 422 verses! Do a similar search on Amazon for books and only two are listed.  Suffice to say Christians are somewhat squeamish when it comes to discussing Hell.  But we HAVE to talk about it!

However in Matthew 10:28 NASU Jesus does not shy away from it, saying “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Q:  So What?

A:  Because Hell is eternal separation from God!  And without getting into some deep theological weeds, we know Jesus did go to Hell (only briefly Thank God) after His Crucifixion and before His Resurrection three days later.  And if He allowed His Only Son to go there He will allow anyone to go there also.

OK so what should Our Response be?  Perhaps the late great Preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon offers the most powerful, compassionate response:  “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” (SOURCE:  http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/christian-quotes_ochristian.cgi?find=Christian-quotes-by-Charles+Spurgeon-on-Hell)   

Let us therefore proceed with haste to Snatch & to Save The Lost and to Repeat For His Glory!

In His Accessible Grace,

 

Linda

Suffering? Or Sanctifying?

Jerusha Edwards

Jerusha Edwards’ Headstone goo.gl/oQaW2x

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of Team MissionAccess! So lemme ask you:  Are You Suffering?  Or Sanctifying?  Today’s Blog is based on my recent Bible Study at Bartimaeus Baptist Temple entitled:  “Suffering 2.0–The Sanctification Upgrade.”

John Piper’s excellent book Acting the Miracle: God’s Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification defines Sanctification as “the modest theological term we Christians use to refer to the process of being Holy.” [i]  Books, Bible Studies, Sermons and Seminars abound exceeding abundantly on this thorny theological imperative. 

Bottom Line? It’s TOUGH!  So I’ve got Good News…and Other News.  Let’s start with that:

There Are No Points If You Caused It

1 Peter 2:20 NASU says:  “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”

But Good News! God Will Help You Through It!

Isaiah 41:10 NASU says:

‘Do not fear, for I am with you;  Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely, I will help you,  Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Thankfully Our Awesome Lord shows us it’s not only possible, He’s given us clear evidence in the Believers like David Brainerd who have gone on before.  Though we have ample evidence of David’s sanctification from his personal diaries, it is this humble postscript penned by Jonathan Edwards (who published them after David’s death) whose own 18-year-old daughter Jerusha also died of TB after caring faithfully for the dying missionary:

“She had not seen one minute for several years wherein she desired to live one minute longer, for the sake of any other good in life, but doing good, living for God, and doing what she might for His Glory.” [ii]

May Her Humble Example Serve To Redefine Sanctification As A Suffering 2.0 Upgrade For His Glory! 

In His Accessible Grace,

 

Linda

[i] 1 John Piper & David Mathis, “Acting the Miracle: God’s Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification” (Wheaton, IL:  Crossway, 2013), Kindle Edition.

[ii] 2 “The Life And Diary of the Rev. David Brainerd” (with Notes & Reflections by Jonathan Edwards) 1749, Kindle Edition.

 

 

 

Opportunity Knocks!

Blessed To Have You On Board in 2017 & Beyond!

SPRING 2017 

 

Greetings & Blessings Faithful Followers of Team MissionAccess!

As we Spring into Summer 2017 I am thankful for Faithful Followers like You who “Like” what we do and support us Exceeding Abundantly throughout the year.

Click here to find out more:  MA SPRING 2017 OPP LET LEAVING A LEGACY 053017

Thanks For The Opportunity!

In His Accessible Grace,

 

Linda Thacker

Executive Director

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