Letters to God #10 by Dana – “Forgiveness for 4 counts of attempted murder”

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Addiction, Consequences, Conviction, Dana C, Forgiveness, Grace, Inmate Testimonies, Jesus Christ, Letters from inmates, Repentance, Spiritual growth, Testimony

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

Dear God,

Thank you for another beautiful day in such an ugly place.  How ironic that I had to come to the “concrete jungle” of chaos and noise to find joy and inner peace.  Because it’s true, O Lord, I’m happier than I’ve been in a long while in one of the most unhappy places on earth.  For I laugh more than I have in years.  I smile almost constantly, and I wake up without guilt or sadness from the turmoil of my once lethal life.  Don’t misunderstand me Lord Jesus.  I know why I’m here and I haven’t forgotten my journey or just how many miles I need to go on my road trip to eternal life.  I just mean that finding You, the peace of the Holy Spirit, and accepting You as my Lord and Savior has done wonders for my soul and has made it easier to enjoy the simple things, see the big things and know what’s important.  So even though I’m fully aware that I’m incarcerated facing 40+ years, housed with other women deemed dangers to society just like me, I can appreciate that I’m happily sober, relieved to be safe and alive and sometimes overwhelmed with the beauty of Your love and enduring forgiveness for sinners like me.  So as my pod-mate says, “Lord, you really do have a sense of humor, and You work in mysterious ways.”  Praise God!

Letter to God #6 – A Death Un-mourned by Dana

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Dana C, Inmate Testimonies, Jesus Christ, Spiritual growth, Spiritual Warfare, Testimony

This is Dana’s sixth “Letter to God”.  What a privilege to read these intimate letters to God.  I am blessed that she is willing to share these with me, and allow them to be on the blog.  Here is her first letter, second letter, third letter, fourth letter, and fifth letter.

12/4/14

Dear God,

I thank You for this day, even though we both know that its been a very tiresome and trying day for me so far.  But I’m determined to stay confident that today will end with everything You want it to be for me, for I will “cast all my anxiety upon Him because He cares for me” (1 Peter 5:7).  I know Lord that these hard days are necessary and there are plenty more in my future, because I’m aware that this change I am making, this spiritual journey in which I embark, is a process. 

Letter To God #5 – “I Am His Miracle” by Dana

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Dana C, Inmate Testimonies, Jesus Christ, Spiritual growth, Testimony

11/2014

Dear God,

Hello my sweet, merciful Lord.  Thank You for this day!  Lord, it’s so amazing to me how even though I wake up in here, the “concrete jungle”, every day, I don’t feel all the burdens of a new day as I once did, but rather I can’t wait to embrace all the blessings this new day has to offer.

Letter to God #4 -“Merely a Co-Pilot, With No Gift To Give” by Dana

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Dana C, Jesus Christ, Seeking God, Spiritual growth, Testimony

This is Dana’s fourth “Letter to God”.  What a privilege to read these intimate letters to God.  I am blessed that she is willing to share these with me, and allow them to be on the blog.  Here is her first letter, second letter and third letter.

11/12/14

Dear God,

Well Lord, lately I have so much to be thankful for that I don’t even know where to begin.  But I will first start off by praising You for yet another day lived.  A day in which I’m sober, I’m healthy and I’m happy with the glory of the Holy Spirit in my heart.  I have a smile on my face and peace in my soul, both of which I’ve lacked for far too long and I’ve so desperately needed.  Thank You Jesus for bringing in all the ladies that come in our “Concrete Jungle” to minster to us, for their guidance is greatly needed, appreciated and comforting.  For they come in here unafraid, gentle and un-judging, and speak with such love and remind me I’m not just a number.  I’m more than the sum of my crimes, and that I too am a child of God and a woman of worth.  With their help dear Lord, I feel so blessed and so peaceful since they’ve shown me how to bend my ear and crack my heart to Your soothing Word. 

I FAILed to learn… UNTIL

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Audrey W., Gospel, Jesus Christ, Poetry, Spiritual growth

A poem from my dear friend Audrey.

I FAILed to learn… UNTIL

I FAILed at talking
Until I learned to talk
I FAILed at walking
Until I learned to walk

Forgiveness – Following Jesus Part 5

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Conscience, Fear of God, Forgiveness, Jesus Christ, Obedience, Sin, Spiritual growth, Spiritual Warfare

Do you know any older people that are consumed with bitterness and self-pity?  Stop and look at how it has damaged their life, their relationships, their joy, their peace and their happiness.  Take a hard look at the consequences.  It is NOT worth it.

It takes a lot of emotional and mental energy to keep a wound open and feed a grudge.  Anger and self-pity are a poison to our heart, spirit and soul that will eventually consume us.  Unforgiveness gives bitterness a chance to take hold, and makes us a slave to the person we refuse to forgive.  They occupy a room in our mind and consume our thoughts.  They steal our energy, our joy and our peace.

Forgiveness is ultimately a SPIRITUAL BATTLE.

God’s Forgiveness Through Us – Part 4

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Forgiveness, Gospel, Jesus Christ, Obedience, Spiritual growth

We welcome the idea of God’s forgiveness offered to us, but we all hesitate to extend forgiveness to others who have hurt us.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, forgiveness is not optional.  It is commanded.  We are to forgive as we have been forgiven.  Christ died to make forgiveness possible for us, which we were still His enemy.  Our forgiveness should look like that.  Our forgiveness should reflect our love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Jail “Classroom”

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Jesus Christ, My Testimony, Spiritual growth, Thankfulness

Teaching God’s Word to women in jail has been one of the biggest challenges in my life, and one of the biggest blessings of my life.

Psalm 37:4 says “Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  For a long time I misunderstood that verse to mean that God would give me things I desire.  That isn’t it at all.  He gives us THE DESIRES – He fills our heart with a desire to do what He has purposed us to do.  Much to my surprise, God has filled my heart with a burning desire to share His truth with women in jail.  That wasn’t something I ever sought.  God had to drag me to jail, and I’m so thankful He did.

Going To Jail… Alone!

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Faith, My Testimony, Spiritual growth

I never planned on going to jail, but looking back I can see that God prepared me for it, despite my selfish unfaithfulness.  I am so thankful God is faithful, even when we are not!  He knew the exact steps I would need to take, and He directed them.  Serving Jesus Christ through jail ministry is undoubtedly one of the biggest privileges and blessings of my life.

Wow… Is My Faith Like That?

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Faith, Letters from inmates, Spiritual growth

I am frequently humbled as I see the faith of some of the women I serve in jail, and their love for Christ.  I stopped by my ministry post office box on the way to church this morning, and would like to share some bits and pieces of a letter that I received from Christina, one of “my girls”.