A Note from Jackie
Happy fall, everyone! Can you believe fall has already begun? This marks the beginning of the favorite season of the year for many of us. I’m so ready to start burning my pumpkin candles and enjoying pumpkin lattes!
I would like to send a big “Thank you” to Anne Beiler and to those of you who tuned in to our fall virtual event! We had a wonderful time showcasing Museum of the Bible while learning the story behind Auntie Anne’s pretzels.
I hope you’ll join us virtually for our gala on Sunday, November 15, an even larger production celebrating the third anniversary of Museum of the Bible and honoring the Bible’s impact, history, and narrative. Go ahead and mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more details!
Here we are, seven months since COVID-19 has changed life as we knew it and our world has been turned upside down. As I reflect on the hardship humanity has endured, I draw inspiration from the life of a true Woman of Legacy: Ruth Bell Graham. Throughout her younger years, Ruth thought the trajectory God was calling her to was as a life-long missionary in the Far East. As we know all too well, God often has other plans for our life. I always chuckle when I am reminded of the old saying, “Man plans and God laughs”!
Ruth met her future husband at Wheaton College. As it turned out, he also had a sense of calling to ministry, more specifically, to preaching. His name? The legendary Billy Graham, of course.
Through much prayer, Ruth was able to set aside her fears and confusion about the conflicting callings that she and Billy felt, and gave her hand and heart to him, trusting God to sort it all out for them. She couldn’t have imagined the journey ahead of them, as Billy’s ministry led millions to Christ throughout the world.
Ruth did not sit idly by, rather she prayed tenaciously for Billy while he was away preaching, raised their five children to be well-versed in the Scriptures, helped Billy write, and authored many books of her own.
In one of the books she authored, Ruth shared, “When it is dark and the imagination runs wild, there are fears that only a mother can understand. Suddenly the Lord said to me, ‘Quit studying the problems and start studying the promises.’” This holds more meaning to me now more than ever. At a time when it is easy to dwell on much brokenness and uncertainty in our world, we can confidently return to the truth that can be found in the Bible and the promises of God within it.
In a moment of particular fear for her children, Ruth opened her Bible to Philippians 4:6, which states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” This marked a new beginning for Ruth, in which she decided worship and worry cannot live in the same heart.
I encourage you, as I am reminded myself, to seek refuge in the Word of God. Tenacity to endure comes through gratitude and prayer. And as Heather Headley so beautifully reminded us during our virtual event this summer, God is sovereign, and great is His faithfulness. Enjoy this video clip as a pick-me-up as she sings in surrender to Him here.
Gratefully and prayerfully,
Jackie Green
Museum of the Bible Co-founder and Women of Legacy Founder