Prison Ministry -WOW
OK, never in a million years did I think God would have me doing this! It began with 1 little letter as I am a Team Leader at Celebrate Recovery. I know why God doesn't tell us HIS plan for our life. I call the PGGMers (People God Gave Me), I write them weekly with a Bible lesson, Celebrate Recovery Lessons and visit when I can. I was so shocked to find out that the PGGMers were refering me to others and I was literally being passed from facility to facility and they were sending home my letters to THEIR FAMILIES! I was in awe what God is doing! It makes me think of a spider web....starts small and grows huge.
Here's a sample of the Bible Lessons:
Psalm 63:1-5 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise you! I will honor you as long as I live, lifting up my hands in prayers. You satisfy me more the richest foods. I will praise you with songs of joy.
Wow, let's break this down because it is loaded with amazing truth about God, us, and our relationship with Him. Let's begin with the words I've underlined and you really think about what the word of God is saying to you.earnest = serious and solemn: intensely or excessively serious and grave in manner or attitude. search = examine something thoroughly: to look into, over, or through something carefully in order to find somebody or something.soul = non-physical aspect of person: the complex of human attributes that manifests as consciousness, thought, feeling, and will, regarded as distinct from the physical body 2. feelings: a person's emotional and moral nature, where the most private thoughts and feelings are hidden. thirsts = strong craving: a strong desire for something.unfailing = limitless: never used up or exhausted 2. always reliable: able to be relied on at all times 3. always accurate: totally accurate and without fault. love = something eliciting enthusiasm: something that elicits deep interest and enthusiasm in somebody 2. beloved: used as an affectionate word to somebody loved (informal).honor = respect: great respect and admiration.
Looking closely at the breakdown and study of this verse, I ask myself, "Am I like this with Jesus?" "If not why?" "What do I need to change?"You see, it is US that is suffering in the above verses parched, thirsty, longing and weary. God never changes so if there's a problem between me or you and God, guess where the problem lies? Did I quit earnestly searching? Did I quit thirsting? Did I quit honoring? You notice God's love is UNFAILING? So, why would you want anything else but Jesus? He's everything. Don't think so....go back and slowly read the verses and the definitions and really think long & hard about it.
Seems to me that the deck is stacked towards us and not against us and it is all due to God's unfailing love. What are we so afraid of? I can turn ALL EVERYTHING in my life over to Jesus because of His UNFAILING LOVE.
You aren't sure? LOOK AT THE DEFINITIONS! Why would I ever need be afraid with Jesus on my side? He will take care of me when I am in the worst of conditions (weary, parched, near death, thirsty, and longing to be out of my mess!).
Here's a sample of the Bible Lessons:
Psalm 63:1-5 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself; how I praise you! I will honor you as long as I live, lifting up my hands in prayers. You satisfy me more the richest foods. I will praise you with songs of joy.
Wow, let's break this down because it is loaded with amazing truth about God, us, and our relationship with Him. Let's begin with the words I've underlined and you really think about what the word of God is saying to you.earnest = serious and solemn: intensely or excessively serious and grave in manner or attitude. search = examine something thoroughly: to look into, over, or through something carefully in order to find somebody or something.soul = non-physical aspect of person: the complex of human attributes that manifests as consciousness, thought, feeling, and will, regarded as distinct from the physical body 2. feelings: a person's emotional and moral nature, where the most private thoughts and feelings are hidden. thirsts = strong craving: a strong desire for something.unfailing = limitless: never used up or exhausted 2. always reliable: able to be relied on at all times 3. always accurate: totally accurate and without fault. love = something eliciting enthusiasm: something that elicits deep interest and enthusiasm in somebody 2. beloved: used as an affectionate word to somebody loved (informal).honor = respect: great respect and admiration.
Looking closely at the breakdown and study of this verse, I ask myself, "Am I like this with Jesus?" "If not why?" "What do I need to change?"You see, it is US that is suffering in the above verses parched, thirsty, longing and weary. God never changes so if there's a problem between me or you and God, guess where the problem lies? Did I quit earnestly searching? Did I quit thirsting? Did I quit honoring? You notice God's love is UNFAILING? So, why would you want anything else but Jesus? He's everything. Don't think so....go back and slowly read the verses and the definitions and really think long & hard about it.
Seems to me that the deck is stacked towards us and not against us and it is all due to God's unfailing love. What are we so afraid of? I can turn ALL EVERYTHING in my life over to Jesus because of His UNFAILING LOVE.
You aren't sure? LOOK AT THE DEFINITIONS! Why would I ever need be afraid with Jesus on my side? He will take care of me when I am in the worst of conditions (weary, parched, near death, thirsty, and longing to be out of my mess!).
Replies
Hey Jackie,I began to wonder
which side of the bars you\'ve been living on :(
Your return to the fold is most welcome !
Has your phone # changed?..........Mine hasn\'t either!!!
luvU
LOL. Yeah, in my wild youth I used to hit a different set of bars and now look where God\'s taken me! I\'m still living on the right side of the bars but hubby swears I\'m nuts. Hope to go back to nursing home tomorrow. Lost Aunt Lois 9.9 and just couldn\'t stand the thoughts of going back. I was blessed to be with her as she passed and she squeezed my hand 3x. She had no other responses but she knew I was there till the end.