The story of Leah
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Dean's story
God Answers Prayer- Nathan (Dean's) story
From a prisoner to a pastor. Hear Dean share his journey with finding Christ.
Click on the link below
God Answers Prayer- a walk through forgiveness
Click on Blue link
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Stones of Remembrance
Stones of Remembrance
Lately, a member of my family has
been going through a really difficult time. Along with them, I admit I’m discouraged. There appears to be no progress in the situation. I find it
easy to forget that God is working.
There is
a story in the Bible in the book of Joshua (chp. 4). In the story, Joshua had
twelve men stack twelve stones as a remembrance of God’s divine intervention.
The Israelites had crossed the Jordan River into the promise land. “That this
may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come saying, ‘what do
these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them, that the waters of the Jordan
were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over
the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be a
memorial to the children of Israel forever” (Joshua 4: 6-7). The twelve stones
served as a lasting memorial of what the Lord had done. I wrote the book,
Christ and the Prisoner’s Wife as my stones of remembrance of what the Lord has
done in my life. Although, in the mist of my challenges, I find it easy to
forget that the Lord is working.
There is
a song, Waymaker (Bethel Music ) that speaks of God working behind the scenes.
Even when I don't see it, You're
working
Even when I don't feel it, You're working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop, You never stop working
The song has a
verse that states:
You are herŠµ, turning lives around
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, and you're mending every heart
I worship You, I worship You
I KNOW God turns lives around. I
know when a situation looks impossible, God works all things out. There is a
phrase in the bible, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by
the word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11). In the New Testament, believers used
their personal testimonies to over-come evil, share the gospel of Jesus Christ,
and declare God’s goodness and faithfulness.
Lord, help me to remember today
that even when I don’t see it, you’re working. Lord, continue to intervene in
my life and the lives of my family members. Let me remember all the miracles
you have already done in our family.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Divine Appointments
Divine Appointments
I had not been in the county jail
to conduct “church services” for a month. I had not been in the women’s prison
facility for two months. Every week, something prevented me from entry. I was discouraged
and questioning the “calling” I felt God had placed on my heart. Once again, I
stood at the jail desk waiting to find out if they were going to let me in this
week; the women had just gone on “lock down”. I silently prayed, “Lord, please
make a way for me to get in this week.” The C.O. (Corrections Officer) approached
me and said they were ready to escort me back. I got to the women’s unit and was
told I could not go in due to lockdown, but I could visit in PC (protective
custody) instead. The C.O. continued to speak, “Only two women wanted church,
so you can see those two.” My heart sank. A month ago, Carrie (an inmate from
another housing unit) had asked me for some verses to encourage her through a
situation. I had been carrying those for a month but was unable to see her. Last
time I was in PC, one woman kept interrupting “Jesus eats people” and another shouting
“the antichrist changed the Bible, you can’t believe it.” I prayed silently as
I entered the narrow hall with cells crowded together in PC. Honestly, I wished
I had not come today. I entered a bare cell with just a metal bed frame, the
two ladies sitting on the bed; the toilet in the corner covered in saran wrap. The
C.O. carried in a chair for me. I introduced myself and asked their names.
Another woman (an inmate) came into the room, “Kathleen, I’m so glad you came.”
I knew her from a recovery group at the church. I had heard she was back in jail
but never saw her in the unit; it made sense now. She had been in PC. “I didn’t
tell them to bring me church because I thought it was the Jehovah Witnesses
again,” she stated. I began to share from the Word the God in the book of
Matthew. Within minutes, one woman interrupted me. “Listen, I should have been
killed several times in the last few weeks. I was in a car accident; I was high
and should have died.” She proceeded to share other events in which her life
was spared, all occurring within a relatively short amount of time. “I know it
is because if I died, I would go to hell.” She continued, “I’m sorry for
interrupting, but I need to know before you go, how do I find God?”
I began
to share with her how God sent his son Jesus to die for our sins. The C.O.
standing watch at the cell door was called over the radio. I looked at the C.O.
and asked if I needed to leave. The C.O. stated, “No, continue.” The C.O.
stated over the radio that she was unable to come unlock the door at this time.
In that tiny cell, I shared the gospel message with these women. They all said the
prayer to accept Christ into their lives. I thanked the C.O. for allowing me to
finish ministering to the women before responding to the radio call to go unlock
the door. After the C.O. unlocked the door, I asked, “Could I possibly see
Carrie before I leave? I know she is on lockdown. She asked me for verses over
a month ago.” The C.O. went and got Carrie. She allowed me to share with Carrie in the hallway before I was escorted out.
I knew
God had intervened today. He had put me exactly where He wanted me to be in the
moment. These ladies had a divine encounter with the Almighty God. What was initially
a discouragement and detour for me was a divine appointment from God.
I wonder
how often in our lives we miss divine appointments from God because they seem
like a detour to our plans. God, teach me to sit in the moment and follow your
lead today. I don’t want to miss the Holy Spirit’s leading and your glory.
Friday, September 13, 2024
What if I did what I could?
Mary of Bethany
Recently I reread the story of Mary of Bethany. She was the
sister of Martha and Lazarus. She had a friendship with Jesus. She was there
when Jesus taught in her home. She sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to him
teach. She saw him raise Lazarus from the dead. Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, “Mary
took a pound of very costly oil and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His
feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil”
(John 12: 3). Judas was critical of Mary’s act, stating “the money should have
been given for the poor” (John 12: 5-6). Judas had no care for the poor but was
a thief and wanted the money for himself. The oil was “three hundred denarii”,
the equivalent of a year’s wages. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept
this for the day of My burial” (John 12: 7, NKJV). Matthew told the story this
way, Jesus said, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work
for me” (Matt. 26:10), “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is
preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a
memorial to her” (Matt. 26:13). I love the way Mark told the story, Jesus
said, “She has done what she could” (Mark 14:8). Mary of Bethany could not stop
the crucifixion; she could not change future events; but she did what she
could.
Gateway Worship wrote a worship song called Alabaster
Jar. Part of the song states,
This alabaster jar is all I have of worth
I break it at Your feet, Lord
It’s less than you deserve.
Mary did what she could. I used to work as a principal and
relief house parent at a Christian Children’s Home. I would have loved to adopt
multiple children and “rescue them”. God didn’t call me to take those children
permanently; He called me to “do what I could.” I could love them, teach them,
listen to them, pray with them, in that season (my time at the facility). There
have been so many times in my life when I wanted to change the
situation/circumstance for so many. I’ve learned that God just asked me to be
faithful, to do what I can. In addiction ministry, so many times I wish I could
“rescue” a family. My job is to listen, pray, and bring them the word of God. God
is the one responsible to change lives; He is the one that brings that harvest.
There are times I’m in a hurry or don’t wish to be bothered. I rush through Walmart
on a mission to get my items and leave; there are times I dodge people, so I
won’t have to stop and hear about their life. When a homeless person walks up
to me, in my heart I’m thinking “Really, Lord, I’m in a hurry.” Sometimes I
stop to help and pray. Other times, I avoid eye contact. What if every day, I
responded like Mary and did what I could. What if we all “did what we could?”
To learn more Read Mark 14: 3-9; John 12: 1-8; Matt.
26:6-13.
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Seasons of Time
Seasons of Time
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose
under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die. A time to plant, and a time
to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to break
down, And a time to build up. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to
mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather
stones. A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing. A time to
gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to throw away. A time to
tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silent, and a time to speak. A time to
love, And a time to hate; a time of war, And a time of peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:
1-8).
A season of time. Some seasons are shorter than others, and
certainly some seasons are more enjoyable than others. I sat listening to woman
doing their “time” inside this level 3 and level 4 women’s facility. The prison
was enclosed by a chain link fencing with several rows of razor wire. The gym
where we gathered was hot, the air conditioning broken in the middle of August.
Time… two of the women had served 40 years, while another was beginning her 30th
year incarcerated. Years away from their family. During their time, some of
them had lost a parent or a child to death; they had “watched” their loved one’s
funeral service on the “web” through special arrangements and permission of the
warden. Could there possibly be a purpose in this season?
I reflect on my own journey. My husband was incarcerated for
13 years. I recall how difficult that season was at times. There were times
when I could not see the end in sight. I pondered, how does one live in prison
for 20, 30, 40 plus years? How does one live for Christ in these circumstances?
I’m reminded of Paul in the New Testament. He wrote multiple
books of the Bible (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) while
incarcerated. In fact, these books are known as the prison epistle (Colossians,
Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians). In James it says, “to count it all joy
when you fall into various trials” because those circumstances lead to making “you
perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4). Without a doubt, Paul’s
circumstances lead to the furtherance of the gospel. Paul teaches several key concepts: how to maintain
a positive perspective in difficult circumstances; how to live as a Christian in
a pagan world; how to have joy; and how to live as God children.
Perhaps you are currently living in a difficult season, and
you are wondering when this season will be over. Perhaps you too, can see no
end in sight. Ask God to help you. Read the book of Philippians for encouragement.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)