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A fresh starts are a good thing. God is always doing something new–even in impossible situations! “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19 NLT). Being in relationship with our Father through His Son Jesus Christ is never boring. He is eager to share something new every day. After my son’s conviction…
Our lives and the lives of our incarcerated loved ones are not defined by a moment in time. Perhaps some of our loved ones are falsely accused and wrongfully convicted, while others are guilty deserving the conviction. Regardless of how they ended up with a prison sentence, there is a common denominator—the label. Inmate. Offender. Prisoner. That label does not define who they are if they are in Christ. You see, my friend, as I continue to search the Word…
“…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13 NLT). As we change our calendars, our memories are not erased like we would erase a hard drive. We do not actually forget the things that happened in the past. I think “forgetting the past” means not to dwell on the past so much that it hinders our forward progress. We cannot take a leap of faith with baggage. Repent for the…
How do you meditate on the Word? According to Dictionary.com, meditate means “to engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.” Joshua 1:8 reads, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” (NLT) The Word instructs us to meditate on the Word of God day and night. There are a myriad of ways to think about, contemplate, and reflect on God’s truth. If…
“Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38 NKJV). “Write down everything in that journal. Someday you’ll be sharing your story.” John handed me the red Moleskine® journal. Instinctively, I reached out and took it from him. “I don’t want this story.” Though devastated from my son’s arrest just weeks before, I attended a seminar training as scheduled. John, who was part…
“Are you ready for Christmas,” the clerk asks at the checkout. That innocent question can provoke a myriad of emotions. Especially for those who are struggling with the loss of a family member, chronic illnesses, the empty seat at the table due to an incarcerated loved one, or other difficult situations. The mind screams, “Do I look like I’m ready? I just want to make my purchases and get home!” Holiday music is piping through the store speakers. “It’s the…
This time of year we miss those who cannot be home with us. For families who have someone they love incarcerated, our emotions may run amuck. We might blame ourselves. We may feel angry with our loved one for putting themselves in this situation. We might run through a list of “could of’s” and “should have’s” wondering how we missed it. That’s how I felt the very first Christmas that my son was imprisoned. I found a letter that I…
Through Christ Jesus, our Savior, God has blessed us with gifts. What are we doing with those gifts? In my last post I shared how these gifts from God will never break, rot, malfunction, or expire. Yet, we need to keep our gifts stirred up so we can use them for God’s glory. “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in your through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6). Let’s stir…
God gave us the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. He was born of a virgin and lived a life without sin. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we can become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). After growing up, Jesus suffered and paid the debt for sin that we cannot pay. He became our substitute, which gives us eternal life with God the Father. That, my friend, is…