I've been meaning to feature on this blog women I have known
or perhaps women you have known that are inspirational. These may not be famous
women but one thing they will all have in common is wildfire faith as described
in the book "Unquenchable" by Carol Kent. I'm calling it my Women with Wildfire
Faith Tribute and the first one I am featuring is Billie Taylor, my original
first Bible Study mentor; it is her 90th birthday!
"What is wildfire faith? A wildfire, by definition, differs
from other fires by virtue of its uncontrollable nature, massive size, the speed
at which it spreads, its tendency to rapidly change direction, and its ability
to leap over roads, rivers and firebreaks. The intense heat and convection winds
it produces can actually change weather conditions or even produce its own
weather system, including violent tornadoes that send embers flying well ahead
of the main fire front. These factors make wildfires notoriously difficult to
extinguish.
Imagine having a faith with those same qualities---a faith
so powerful, so massive, that it spreads uncontrollably and leaps over
boundaries that try to contain or extinguish it. Such faith has the power not
only to rise about the circumstances but also to change the "weather conditions"
of our lives. Wildfire faith replicates itself, throwing sparks and embers far
beyond its own boundaries, creating additional fires of faith that then spread
in new directions.
Wildfire faith springs from God's Word and burns itself
into your own story. It reveals the true power of the fire God has placed in
you, fans the flames of your faith, stirs your passion, and emboldens you to
spark new fires that will spread and forever change the landscape of this
world.
Such a faith does far more than simply hold on when life
tries to extinguish it. It leaps in new directions, finds new fuel to keep
burning, turns up the heat of a cold and deadened heart---and is unstoppable!"
(Carol Kent from Unquenchable)
(Carol Kent from Unquenchable)
Billie, this is the kind of faith that you have always
portrayed to me and to so many others. This is your legacy that you, a small
Southern woman rose up from the pain of life and gave life to others in the
midst of that pain. That you pressed on, pushed on and said "Lord, keep me when
I don't want to be kept." You said that to me and countless others and now look
around you, He did it! He kept you, held you, blessed you and loved you! And we
love you, too. One day I'll post how God brought us together when He sent Billie
to a Christian Women's Club to minister to me, a young woman dying inside with
pain, about forty years ago. That's a story in itself! Thank You Jesus for
putting us together
Happy 90th birthday Billie Taylor!
I hope to feature a Women with Wildfire Faith tribute at least
once a month. I have a few in my heart already picked out and I am open to
suggestions from y'all.
She a wonderful human and woman who inspiresv and gives without expectations. I remember playing in her back yard when I was little and feeling very safe and like things were going to be OK.
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