By A. Cobb
To all the brothers and sisters in LCJ-what brings us to LCJ is worldly sins. Are you willing to risk as much to make a difference? Everybody knows you must take risks to be successful by earthly standards. Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. We have to risk worldly success, risk losing our feeling of independence, risk giving up control of our lives. To be truly relinquished we have to risk it all. But what we gain is so GREAT! To consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord for whose sake I have lost all things. To consider them rubbish to gain Christ and be found in Him. Dear God we love you so very much. Help us to lovingly surrender all the parts and pieces of our lives to You that we may honor and glorify Your name above all others. Amen.
By Muhammid W.
When we receive Christ, we receive salvation, and not a ‘Give Me Card' from the Lord. True, God is our Father, and He desires to give us all things. But before doing so our focus must be in the right place (Matthew 6:31-33). He commands us to seek His kingdom (will) first. From there He shows us where our focus should be, on His will! The key to receiving is proper priorities-His! If and when we put Him first, He then knows our hearts our right enough to receive His blessings. So let us pray for our desires and leave it up to Him, and from that point on seek to establish His kingdom in our lives by doing His will.
That means not worrying about time, our wife, kids, canteen, prison or probation! It means seeking to raise your inner man and finding ways to spread God's Word daily. It is taking our eyes off of our situation and looking into the eyes of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. From there God promised that He will give us all things! So that implies that it is His to worry about all of that. Our job is to let Him and worry about serving Him. When we take our eyes off of ourselves, and put them on Jesus, He has His eyes on us! Therefore we have no worries.
By a C-2 Female Inmate
There used to be a mound of clay by a pathway through the hills. Only creeping shadows passed over it, so slow and so very still. Then one day a lady came through. She was aged in many years. She came trudging up that mountain path through her pain and through her falling tears. She came up to that little mound that was just a little clay. But it had been many years since she had passed that way. She knelt down on bended knees and to God she did pray. "Dear Lord, please take me home to my little boy beneath clay." Oh! yes, that day her prayers were answered. God always makes His promises come true because beside that little mountain way heaven's angels all came into view. Now I know there is joy in heaven and God has brightened up His throne because He reached out His precious hands and took another angel home.
I enjoy reading Full Pardon, I truly can relate to the feelings those guys feel. I'm glad I met Chaplain Pete, volunteers, and Christian brothers at LCJ. I wish it could have been under different circumstances but God doesn't make mistakes-so I count it all joy. I must continue to wait on the Lord. He is awesome. He moves on His own terms not ours. Be patient and be still is what I tell myself. Please let other inmates know that God is REAL and to LEAN ON HIM. He will carry them through any situation.
Thank you for sending me Full Pardon. Not only do I feel that this paper is a wonderful thing you are doing for the men & women in LCJ, it gives them the opportunity to express themselves and at the same time give their testimony of how God is working in their life. And it builds their faith in the process. Reading their testimonies helps others to establish their relationship and faith in Jesus Christ. I know it does for me and those here that I share Full Pardon with.
Dear Full Pardon readers and my fellow inmates here at LCJ, I felt led to share with you the many bountiful blessings the Lord has so generously blessed my heart as we come to the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. On June 12, 2009 my path of self-destruction had finally come to an end. My bond was revoked and I was arrested a few hours later. I had never been "in jail" before. At the time I was convinced that this was one of the worst days of my life. You see, I left behind my precious 2 year-old daughter (who means everything to me) as well as my husband, brother, mother, grandmother, and a fairly comfortable life.
I now realize through prayer and reflection that June 12, 2009 was a new beginning for me. Prior to this date, in the period of 1 ½ years, I had become a closet alcoholic. I was continuously "fogged" by the different psychiatric medications my doctors had been prescribing for me since the birth of my daughter. My behavior was unrecognizable and I was destroying every good thing that God had blessed my family with.
Since my incarceration the realization of my behavior and the truth about myself was revealed to me through prayer, Bible studies, church services, and programs such as AA. While attending an AA meeting on September 11th and listening to a reading from the "Big Book," I was shocked that the story sounded like an account of a typical day in my life. I was so thankful and had to share. "Praise God!" I said, "I'm not crazy after all, I'm cross-addicted." That meeting was inspired by God for my "spiritual" ears. I am very thankful for the AA meetings and the other programs and services that led to my moment of reflective insight.
As we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays I have begun to focus on the bountiful blessings that have been bestowed on my family and me. My husband has started reading the Bible and has put down the booze. My brother has stayed clean after years of trying. He has completed an intensive heavy equipment operators licensing program and has decided to stay in the area to be an awesome uncle to his now 3 year old niece. My mother has rededicated her life to the Lord and has gone back to church after more than a decade. My grandmother (90 years-old) has stayed steadfast in her devotion to Christ and family. She also has a renewed sense of vigor due to the blessing of her 3 year-old great-granddaughter residing with her and my mother. At long last the strained relationship has been healed in my heart with my father, who lives many miles away.
On October 21st, I accepted a plea of no contest and was sentenced to 80 months in prison. I have placed myself in God's understanding and will for my life, not my own. I truly believe that, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). I praise God for June 12, 2009, for restoring me to sanity, and for blessing my family with His favor. I will continue to rejoice in the Lord and follow His path for me. May God continue to bless us all during this Holiday season!
Queridos hermanos la tinos y todos los que puedan leer Español, de corazón reciban un fraternal saludo en nombre de nuestro se ñoro y Salvador "Jesucristo".
¡Oye! sabes que en esta época del año celebramos las navidades y el nacimiento de nuestro Salvador en un pesebre humilde del pueblo de belén, el cual que un nacimiento virginal (nació de una virgen), es un despliegue de luz 4 muchas decoraciones para darle una hermosa apariencia y colorido a la celebración.
¡Mird! en estas navidades quiero que tú te hagas esta pregunta donde estas? Lo mismo que se la hagas a tus familiares y amigos donde están? Es de suma importancia saber donde estas, si te encuentras en tinieblas, viviendo perded amen te y esclavizado por el pecado y los deseos de las carne, los cuales te ubican en al tango de fuego (Apocalipsis 20:15).
¡Oye! son mis mejores deseo que en estas navidades recibas el precioso regalo de amor que dios padre nos ha dado: a Jesucristo. El no está lejos, está a la puerta de tu corazón, abre la puerta y el enterara y cenara contigo y tú con el (Apocalipsis 3:20), si Tomas este regato y te arrepientes, confesas tu pecados, crees en tu corazón que dios padre tú resucito al tercer (3) Día y que murió en la cruz, por mi, por ti y todos las demás, esto te da la libertad del la esclavitud del pecado y te saca de las tinieblas a la luz verdad era y la vida éter-najas: Tomas esta decisión de aceptar a Jesucristo como tu se ñoro y salvador, bautizándote en su nombre, esto te ubica en la nueva Jerusalén la celestial donde esta nuestra ciudadanía en los cielos (Filipenses 3:20), todo el despliegue de luces y arreglos que se hacen en las navidades, no es comparable de las hermosura y la gloria de la gran ciudad, donde las calles son de oro, no necesita de luz, ni de sol, ni de tuna y tampoco tiene templo. Poique el Señor Dios todopoderoso, es el templo de ella y el cordero (Apocalipsis 21:21-23).
¡Mira! no re fardes tu decisión porque el tiempo se apresura al fin yal retorno de nuestro Señor Jesucristo y tú no tienes control de él, aproó hecha la paciencia de nuestro Señor porque él no quiere que ninguno se pierda, sin no que proceda al arrepentimiento (2 Pedro 3:9), sabes que Jesucristo vino a este mundo a: Buscar y Salvar a los que se habían perdido como tú y yo (San Lucas 19:10), quiero que sepas esto la primera persona que entro en el reino y en el gozo del Señor, fue un criminal que crucificaron junto con el (San Lucas 23:43) tu sabes que fue ron dos (2) uno (1) se arrepintió y fue salvo a disfrutar del a presencia del Señor y el otro por su dureza de corazón se perdió y fue al lago de fuego y tormento, te digo a ti que ahora es el tiempo aceptable para tu salvación, en este mundo de tribulación (2 Corintios 6:2).
¡Oye! que mejor fin de año, sien do una nueva creación y miembro de la familia de Dios, porque si tu estas en Cristo nueva criatura eres, he aquí las cosas viejas pararon todas son hechas nuevas (2 Corintios 5:17), con esta promesa y muchas más que Dios nos ha prometido en su Santa Palabra (La Santa Biblia), nada mejor que para desearte un buen comienzo de año 2010 ungido con el poder Del Espirito Santo, porque todo lo puedes en este fin de año y en los venideros en Cristo Jesús que te fortalece (Filipenses 4:13).
Hermanos mis agradecimientos al Profesor Gary y al Sacerdote Pete, por permitir esta nota de exhortación por este medio y poder Hacerles llegar esta mensaje y puedan ser tocado y con ver tarjé a una nueva vida; a mis compañeros y todas en general les deseo una pela navidad y prospero y venturoso año 2010 y el Dios de amor y poder. Los Guarde en paz, Amén.
Thanks to you who sent in testimonies, poems, songs, stories, and drawings. We hope more of you will write for the next issue of Full Pardon. Send them to Chaplain Pete. Remember to keep it less than 250 words. To share Full Pardon with those on the outside, they can go to www.trinityfree.com/fullpardon on the Internet. Trust God, He is on your side - if you will let Him be. He loves you!
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