Letters to God #12 – The Light in the Dark by Dana

Tags

Addiction, Dana C, Gratitude, Inmate Testimonies, Jesus Christ, Letters from inmates, Prayer, Restoration, Salvation, Testimony

Dana has written several “letters to God” – you can see them here.

Dear God,

I want to thank You for this day.  Another day alive, happy and full of the Holy Spirit.  I’m sorry that I haven’t written in a while, but I’ve felt like I haven’t been able to feel Your presence lately, and that has made me lonelier than I ever would have imagined, and also quietly sad inside.  Sometimes I sit down to write and the words come pouring out of me like some sort of ocean tidal wave washing over the shores.  But lately when I sit down to write, I stare at the blank page with all its plain void and it reminds me of my once spiritually depleted life.  So instead of touching the pen down to paper to try to release my written therapy for my once beaten and abused soul, I run and abandon the lonely lifeless sheet like I handled every other uncomfortable or bad situation in my past.  But I’m writing You now, my Lord, because I wanted to reconnect. 

God Doesn’t Like Boxes

Tags

Chains Or Christ Retreat, Jesus Christ, Prayer

I have written before that “I have a box, and I like my box”.  But God is not a God of boxes.  He seems quite persistent about dragging us outside of our boxes on a regular basis!

A few months ago I was asked by a dear friend to teach at a small women’s retreat.  She insisted that this was God’s idea, and not hers.  And I do believe her, and I do sense God’s calling to do this, and I do want to be obedient… but this is seriously outside my box!  I have never even BEEN to a women’s retreat.  I have never taught Bible study outside jail.  And this is going to be a 4 day retreat – eight Bible study sessions.  Goodbye box!

Thankfulness In Dark Places

Tags

Gratitude, Jail Ministry Musings, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving

I didn’t expect jail to be a place where thankfulness was commonplace.  You wouldn’t think women in that difficult environment, facing difficult circumstances, working through the guilt, shame and regret from bad decisions would have hearts that overflow with gratitude and thankfulness… but many of them do.  I have learned so much from them, and I am grateful for how they minister to my heart.

Letters To God (#2) by Dana C

Tags

Dana C, Prayer, Seeking God

Here is Dana’s first Letter to God.

November 2014

Dear God,

Today’s been a good day and I want to thank you for that dear Lord!  I know that good days come from you, all good regardless of what form it takes come from you O Lord.  So I give glory to you my Jesus, in thanks for the blessing of not just another day of life but rather a happy day at that!  And let me just say Lord that this good day couldn’t have come at a better time. 

Letters To God (#1) by Dana C

Tags

Dana C, Prayer, Seeking God

From Jodi:  This is the first of a couple “letters to God” Dana shared with me.  I pray there will be many more!  What a joy to have Dana share this with me, and give me permission to share it with you.  Please lift Dana in prayer!

Nov 2014

Dear God,

I feel somewhat silly writing this letter, but quite frankly Lord I have no one else to write to or anyone else out there who cares. 

“I Pray For You” by Pam Q.

Tags

Pam Q., Poetry, Prayer

I pray for you
To grow in God’s Word
To find His love and grace
That there is no other who cares
The way He does for us
I don’t want to fall
I want to hold on
We should all be praying for each other
For blessings and strength
For our God is not far
He stands right beside us
We need to endure and wait on Him
Then we will understand all
It will be worth it in the end
Because I have faith and trust in Him
The time is near when He will test us
So be strong and stand firm
Roll with the punches and don’t let doubt in
Go with the flow until God tell us so
The reward is ours, making our lives more valuable

11/1/2014

“Stepping Stone” by Pam Q.

Tags

Letters from inmates, Prayer

God has helped me through some problems I was encountering which has made my faith grow. So, I can tell my testimony of how much love, peace and joy God can add to their life.  I will do it.  I can do it.  I will be a large stepping stone for the Lord.

I Didn’t Expect This…

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Honesty, Prayer, Prayer team, Repentance, Thankfulness

I never expected the prayer requests written by women in jail to knock the breath out of me, but they sometimes do.  I am ashamed to say that I never expected to be challenged and encouraged in my own faith by the prayer requests of the women in the Bible studies I teach, but that happens with great regularity.