Let me start off this blog by doing two things. First of all, I am wishing myself a happy 53rd birthday. On this day, January 4, in 1957, Bill and Elizabeth Burns became the parents of a stunningly handsome, incredibly intelligent, unquestionably funny, and undeniably modest little boy. (I'm the founder and president of my own fan club ... and its only member!)
Secondly, I want to restate the final few words that I posted in the final post of 2009 .... TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost.
Many reading this blog have never been in our conferences and have never heard why I write and say "TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost" so often. Let me tell you the story behind the saying.
One Sunday morning, we had a tremendous time of praise and worship. So many of our children were going after God. God's presence was so tangible. After this time of praise and worship, I told my wife Vickie from the platform that I could see the day that it would be difficult to stop our children from praising God in the service so that we could move on to the next portion of the service. That was a great spiritual statement, or so I thought. Shortly after leaving the platform, God's Spirit spoke to me and corrected me. He said for me to quit saying that I see the day coming and instead begin to state that today was that day. He continued by emphasizing that we can cause ourselves to miss out on what God wants to do today by living in the past where God had visited or by constantly looking at the future. He again emphasized that TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost. By saying the word "today" we are opening the door for the Holy Spirit to begin to move among our children right now.
Join with me. Begin today to announce aloud that TODAY is His day. Begin today to announce boldly that TODAY is His day. Begin today to announce often that TODAY is His day. Thank God for what He has done in the past. I’m thrilled about what He will do in the days to come. But I am ecstatic about what He wants to do TODAY! TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost!!!!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Monday, December 28, 2009
A Personal Note from Billy
Is this year really almost over? Wasn't it just yesterday that we were beginning 2009? What happened? How could 365 days disappear so quickly?
What a year. God has opened up so many doors. In addition to our conferences here in the United States, we also had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad and Austria. The readership to the Billy Burns Ministries blog that you are reading right now is soaring. In the last 30 days, individuals from 39 states in the United States and from 39 nations have hit on the blog. There is truly a hunger for a move of God among children's ministries and their leaders. Vickie and I are thrilled to have the privilege of being a voice in ushering in this move of the Spirit.
As I close out 2009, I want to thank you for your love and support. From time to time, I receive emails telling what the weekly blog means to the readers. I'm also honored to have individuals write asking for information about the possibilities of having a regional Ignite the Supernatural Conference at their church.
I can't wait for 2010. The Bible tells me that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above anything that I can ask or think. If that is true (and it is) God has a mighty big job on His hands because my heart is so filled with expectation. I am convinced that we will see a cloud of God's glory cover auditoriums of boys and girls. I see leaders coming from around the globe to connect with fellow Holy Ghost Seismologists (see the October 26, 2009 blog) who are sensing a movement in the realm of the unseen and are seeking guidance on how to announce the upcoming shaking, the same type of shaking that was experienced throughout the Book of Acts.
As always, I am an email away. Contact me at billy@billyburnsministries.com for suggestions, conference information, or to just connect with a fellow Holy Ghost Seismologist.
One last time for 2009 allow me to announce what has been forever imprinted on my heart by the Holy Ghost ... TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost!
What a year. God has opened up so many doors. In addition to our conferences here in the United States, we also had the opportunity to minister in Trinidad and Austria. The readership to the Billy Burns Ministries blog that you are reading right now is soaring. In the last 30 days, individuals from 39 states in the United States and from 39 nations have hit on the blog. There is truly a hunger for a move of God among children's ministries and their leaders. Vickie and I are thrilled to have the privilege of being a voice in ushering in this move of the Spirit.
As I close out 2009, I want to thank you for your love and support. From time to time, I receive emails telling what the weekly blog means to the readers. I'm also honored to have individuals write asking for information about the possibilities of having a regional Ignite the Supernatural Conference at their church.
I can't wait for 2010. The Bible tells me that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above anything that I can ask or think. If that is true (and it is) God has a mighty big job on His hands because my heart is so filled with expectation. I am convinced that we will see a cloud of God's glory cover auditoriums of boys and girls. I see leaders coming from around the globe to connect with fellow Holy Ghost Seismologists (see the October 26, 2009 blog) who are sensing a movement in the realm of the unseen and are seeking guidance on how to announce the upcoming shaking, the same type of shaking that was experienced throughout the Book of Acts.
As always, I am an email away. Contact me at billy@billyburnsministries.com for suggestions, conference information, or to just connect with a fellow Holy Ghost Seismologist.
One last time for 2009 allow me to announce what has been forever imprinted on my heart by the Holy Ghost ... TODAY is the day of the Holy Ghost!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Merry Christmas from the Burns Family
Three Generations of Burns at Christmas!
Billy and Vickie and our FAVORITE grandson, Joey
Directly behind me is Elisabeth and Jason, our second son Michael
and to his right is our youngest son Aaron
Rarely am I a person of few words. Circle this blog. You'll never read another posting from me that is this short! But, today all that I can share in this blog is that Vickie and I wish you and yours a merry, Christ-filled Christmas!
Billy and Vickie and our FAVORITE grandson, Joey
Directly behind me is Elisabeth and Jason, our second son Michael
and to his right is our youngest son Aaron
Rarely am I a person of few words. Circle this blog. You'll never read another posting from me that is this short! But, today all that I can share in this blog is that Vickie and I wish you and yours a merry, Christ-filled Christmas!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Dependency Upon the Holy Spirit
Wouldn't it be awesome to be able, to use a Texas word, to "shuck" our clothes and instantly be dressed in a Superman costume? There are so many times that I desperately need to have his supernatural abilities. But, you'll remember that even Superman had his Achilles heal. His weakness was kryptonite which would immobilize him and drain him of his supernatural strengths and abilities.
We all have weaknesses. Even on our best day, we fall far short in what is needed to fulfill our heavenly assignment. As a children's pastor I am so aware of my weaknesses and inabilities. I want to make a powerful impact in our children's lives. But, with some 1,000 children in our ministry, it is difficult if not impossible just to know their names much less what is going on in their personal lives when they aren't at church.
Thankfully, I have the Holy Spirit to step in to cover my weaknesses and inadequacies. Consider this:
"So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness ..." Romans 8:26 (The Amplified Bible)
His side-by-side intervention and assistance is evident as we pray for Paul goes on to say, " ... we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance."
Thank God for the Holy Spirit. I am becoming more and more keenly aware of my dependency upon His shoring up my weaknesses and inadequacies. Through praying in the Holy Spirit in my heavenly prayer language, I can intercede for children that I might not know by name or have any knowledge of their daily circumstances. Through the intercession of the Holy Spirit, this weak, limited children's pastor is able to deal with areas in children's lives that even their parents aren't aware. Again I say, thank God for the Holy Spirit.
Join with me. Let's declare our dependency upon Him. Let's allow Him and invite Him to do what only He can do!!!
We all have weaknesses. Even on our best day, we fall far short in what is needed to fulfill our heavenly assignment. As a children's pastor I am so aware of my weaknesses and inabilities. I want to make a powerful impact in our children's lives. But, with some 1,000 children in our ministry, it is difficult if not impossible just to know their names much less what is going on in their personal lives when they aren't at church.
Thankfully, I have the Holy Spirit to step in to cover my weaknesses and inadequacies. Consider this:
"So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness ..." Romans 8:26 (The Amplified Bible)
His side-by-side intervention and assistance is evident as we pray for Paul goes on to say, " ... we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance."
Thank God for the Holy Spirit. I am becoming more and more keenly aware of my dependency upon His shoring up my weaknesses and inadequacies. Through praying in the Holy Spirit in my heavenly prayer language, I can intercede for children that I might not know by name or have any knowledge of their daily circumstances. Through the intercession of the Holy Spirit, this weak, limited children's pastor is able to deal with areas in children's lives that even their parents aren't aware. Again I say, thank God for the Holy Spirit.
Join with me. Let's declare our dependency upon Him. Let's allow Him and invite Him to do what only He can do!!!
Monday, December 7, 2009
A Relationship with the Holy Spirit
I often refer to Paul's statement concerning the emphasis that he placed in his life for praying in his heavenly prayer language. In 1 Corinthians 14:18 Paul stated that he prayed in tongues "more than ye all." Have you ever considered why Paul would place such an emphasis?
1. Relationship. Paul had learned that praying in tongues provides an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
2. Discipline. I meet so, so many people through the dual roles of being a children's pastor in a large church and also traveling to speak in conferences and churches. I am constantly meeting people and yet, few if any of these new acquaintances will become life-long buddies. Relationships are developed because of my making a conscious effort to connect and reconnect and rereconnect with that person. It is a conscious effort of discipline to find the time to make the telephone call and at other times rearrange calendars so that we can spend time together over a meal. Paul had discovered that his relationship with the Holy Spirit had to be founded upon a discipline for he said in 1 Corinthians 14:15 "I will pray with the Spirit ..." Did you see that? Paul said, "I will ..." Praying with the Spirit is a discipline, a matter of will. Paul had learned the importance of making time to develop this relationship. Convenience and having to have a certain type of feeling didn't determine his personal prayer life in the Spirit. His resolve or discpline was founded upon his "I will ..." He had learned that the clock and typical day-to-day emotions couldn't dictate or preempt his relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Do you want to become a person of the Spirit? Then learn the joy and privilege of having an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit that comes through having a disciplined lifestyle of praying in the Spirit. Let's be like Paul. Let's unwaveringly say, "I will ..."
1. Relationship. Paul had learned that praying in tongues provides an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
2. Discipline. I meet so, so many people through the dual roles of being a children's pastor in a large church and also traveling to speak in conferences and churches. I am constantly meeting people and yet, few if any of these new acquaintances will become life-long buddies. Relationships are developed because of my making a conscious effort to connect and reconnect and rereconnect with that person. It is a conscious effort of discipline to find the time to make the telephone call and at other times rearrange calendars so that we can spend time together over a meal. Paul had discovered that his relationship with the Holy Spirit had to be founded upon a discipline for he said in 1 Corinthians 14:15 "I will pray with the Spirit ..." Did you see that? Paul said, "I will ..." Praying with the Spirit is a discipline, a matter of will. Paul had learned the importance of making time to develop this relationship. Convenience and having to have a certain type of feeling didn't determine his personal prayer life in the Spirit. His resolve or discpline was founded upon his "I will ..." He had learned that the clock and typical day-to-day emotions couldn't dictate or preempt his relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Do you want to become a person of the Spirit? Then learn the joy and privilege of having an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit that comes through having a disciplined lifestyle of praying in the Spirit. Let's be like Paul. Let's unwaveringly say, "I will ..."
Monday, November 30, 2009
You Are Not Alone!
A couple of weeks ago, I really sensed the Holy Spirit speaking to me about my assignment of raising up and equipping children's ministry leaders who will usher in the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. I have always known that my assignment included providing information and revelation as well as passing along an impartation of the deposit which has been entrusted to me. In this unction by the Holy Spirit, I sensed that a part of my assignment that I hadn't really realized is the ministry of confirmation. I began to see that many leaders and volunteers feel that their passion for a move of God’s Spirit has alienated them from the “norm” of children’s ministry. While they too get excited about the bells and whistles, their utmost longing for radical, Holy Ghost children’s ministry has caused many to feel isolated from their peers. Thus, the complete assignment of Billy Burns Ministries has to provide information, revelation, impartation, and CONFIRMATION.
I have a unique position. Due to my visibility in conferences and through the distribution of our materials and writings, I have the opportunity to hear from people all over the world. It is thrilling to hear from people from other countries and backgrounds and denominations who are all expressing the same passion and urgency. There is a universal cry from leaders who are longing for a genuine, powerful move of God's Holy Spirit among their children. They too are sensing that there must be more to children's ministry than what they've been taught and seen.
This week, I want to encourage you. You aren't alone. You aren't weird or flaky. You are among a growing number of people who are declaring that TODAY IS THE DAY OF THE HOLY GHOST. We together are merely echoing the Father's heart and longing to see one last great move of His precious Holy Spirit.
Don't grow weary. Allow me to confirm the fact that you are on the right course of action! Keep developing a deeper and more intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Keep learning to listen to His promptings and leadings. Keep boldly daring to demonstrate that the Holy Ghost is alive and well. Keep announcing that this generation will prophesy and passionately fulfill their God-given assignments.
If you need me, I'm only an email away .... billy@billyburnsministries.com.
I have a unique position. Due to my visibility in conferences and through the distribution of our materials and writings, I have the opportunity to hear from people all over the world. It is thrilling to hear from people from other countries and backgrounds and denominations who are all expressing the same passion and urgency. There is a universal cry from leaders who are longing for a genuine, powerful move of God's Holy Spirit among their children. They too are sensing that there must be more to children's ministry than what they've been taught and seen.
This week, I want to encourage you. You aren't alone. You aren't weird or flaky. You are among a growing number of people who are declaring that TODAY IS THE DAY OF THE HOLY GHOST. We together are merely echoing the Father's heart and longing to see one last great move of His precious Holy Spirit.
Don't grow weary. Allow me to confirm the fact that you are on the right course of action! Keep developing a deeper and more intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Keep learning to listen to His promptings and leadings. Keep boldly daring to demonstrate that the Holy Ghost is alive and well. Keep announcing that this generation will prophesy and passionately fulfill their God-given assignments.
If you need me, I'm only an email away .... billy@billyburnsministries.com.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Advice for Those Needing Red Bull
For the last few years, energy drinks like Red Bull have captured the attention and wallets of an energy-drained, overextended American population. Our doing too much for too long has pushed us to grasp for anything that might give us an additional jolt of oomph so that we can further overextend ourselves.
Can I suggest a Red Bull alternative? Pray in the Spirit! This has to be true. The world-traveling, seemingly never-stopping Apostle Paul must have had some revelation about this when he wrote, "A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally in the Lord ..." 1 Corinthians 14:4 (New Living Translation). No wonder Paul stated that he prayed in tongues more than his counterparts. His assignment and schedule dictated that he draw from the supernatural, heavenly energy and building up that comes from praying in the Spirit.
What’s your schedule like? Is it too full, fast, and draining? Allow me to suggest that you pull away from the race for a brief time and take a drink of the Spirit.
Can I suggest a Red Bull alternative? Pray in the Spirit! This has to be true. The world-traveling, seemingly never-stopping Apostle Paul must have had some revelation about this when he wrote, "A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally in the Lord ..." 1 Corinthians 14:4 (New Living Translation). No wonder Paul stated that he prayed in tongues more than his counterparts. His assignment and schedule dictated that he draw from the supernatural, heavenly energy and building up that comes from praying in the Spirit.
What’s your schedule like? Is it too full, fast, and draining? Allow me to suggest that you pull away from the race for a brief time and take a drink of the Spirit.
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