Amazing love

One of the most challenging and yet rewarding parts of being a Christian is
knowing we each have a plan and purpose on earth to complete.

God created us in his image and wants us to interact with others who are
hurting and lost.

Because we are human, we all have certain areas of pride, anger,
bitterness, selfishness, and prejudice that God needs to work on.

He has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel
to every creature, yet sometimes we are fearful or unwilling to
step out of our comfort zone.

A few years ago, God asked me to become a pen-pal and mentor to
men and women in prison.

I must admit, at first I was afraid and really didn’t want to get involved
with people who have hurt others.

God reminded me of my many sins, which he has forgiven and
that we as Christians cannot complain or be upset with society,
unless we are willing to help bring change into our world.

Thousands of men and women went to prison when they were merely
teens, and have never had anyone tell them they are loved and special.

I recently read where over 70% of people who have committed violent crimes
grew up without a father in the home.

They were never made aware that they had a heavenly Father who loved them
and created them special and unique.

The Bible says…

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearful and wonderfully made; your works are
wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14

Even hardened criminals were knit in their mother’s womb by their loving
Father and are fearfully and wonderfully made.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my
unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:15-16

Many have been raised in dysfunctional homes by people addicted to
drugs, alcohol, or involved in violent crimes. Some were abused,
molested, and taught to hate, steal, or kill.

Recently in the news, a young boy of 12 shot his father’s 8 1/2 month pregnant girlfriend,
because he didn’t like her and felt rejected by his dad.

Children learn by example, and feelings of anger and rejection can cause people to do horrible
things, they think are right and just.

The Apostle Paul is a good example of a man who thought he was doing
right by persecuting Christians and was present at the stoning of the
Apostle Stephen.

God created him for a divine purpose and transformed his thinking and attitude
on the road to Damascus. Jesus told him he was persecuting him, and
made it perfectly clear he was not happy or pleased with is behavior.

Paul lost his sight for 3 days, and during this time, God showed him
he would suffer many things for the advancement of the Gospel.

A while back, I got a letter from a young man in prison who said he
was a Muslim, skin-head, murderer, and racially prejudice against most men.

Somehow in prison, God divinely had him read one of our newsletters
sent to inmates, and he wanted to know about the Christian faith.

He encouraged me to research his background and crimes on the internet,
and to be perfectly honest, when I read what he had done, it made me
very ill and saddened.

I knew God somehow had a plan to help this man see the light, so
I prayerfully began mentoring and sending him Christian material
and words of encouragement.

A few months later, this hard hearted man, became a child of our loving
God and now hopes to study and become a pastor.

He and his girlfriend were both convicted for their crimes and their little boy
was born in prison…but our loving God saw to it that their son was adopted
by a pastor and his family.

David is now studying the scriptures in Greek and English.

Each letter I received was filled with hope and a deep desire to share his faith with
others one day, when he’s out of solitary confinement.

He sent me photos of his beautiful little 4 year old, who he lovingly calls his
knight in shining armor.

There are millions like David who just need to know someone cares. God
can change our world into something beautiful, if we will willingly lay down
our pride and prejudice to be his hands, feet, and voice.

I’m reminded of the great things God did through many men in prison, through
the writing of scriptures and letters to those who were lost and hurting.

Jesus said,

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:44

Are you sick and tired of the crime and violence in our world?

Are you afraid of the future for you and your children?

We must not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.

Jesus reminds us…

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Matthew 22:39

If you were lost and alone in a 4′ x 6′ prison cell, alone and
afraid, would you want someone to visit or write you?

The world can’t change, unless we are willing to be part of the solution.

Jesus said…

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40

When you reach out to those in gangs, criminals, thieves, and murders,
you’ve done it for Jesus.

He loves you and wants to shine his light through you to help others
find hope and healing.

I urge you to become a soldier in the army of Christ. Help us
reach and teach the least of these, and bring healing
and restoration to our world.

Father how grateful we are for your words of light and truth,
to touch the hardest hearts and make them soft and pliable in
your hands. We thank you for bringing David to faith in Jesus
and for sending a loving family and pastor to raise his son.
Show him your will for his life, and help him to become
the godly man and father you created him to be.

We ask you to touch the hearts of many today who will read
this message, to willingly reach past their comfort zone, to
help us reach the lost in prison and those involved in crime
and violence in our world. Transform us into people of light,
hope, and courage. If you are for us, no one can stand against
us. Chase away all fear and prejudice from our hearts.
Help us not to be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.

We ask for healing of Derrick, Kristi, Evelyn, Walter, Gloria, Carl, Nancy, Gene and his family,
Shirley, Daniel, Barb, Kathy,Louise, Larry, Livia, Hannah, Fritz, and all
who are sick and hurting.

We thank you also for hearing our prayers and bringing Maria’s cousin to faith in Jesus.
Bless him and help him to become a faithful follower of Jesus.

We ask for help and healing of Rick Kerr. He has hid his crimes for years, but the truth
has been exposed. Help him to turn from his life of sin, and help those he has offended to
forgive him.

Be with Harold and all the men and women in prison. Help them to vessels of light,
hope, and truth. Send laborers and funds for us to reach more souls in prison, with
your beautiful words of encouragement, hope, and healing. No weapon formed
against us shall prosper. Every tongue that raises against us in judgment, you
will condemn. This is the heritage of the LORD, and our righteousness is from
you LORD Jesus.

Bless Steve and all our partners in the ministry. Father no one can come to faith in
Jesus unless you call them. Bring the lost, so we can share the good news of the
Gospel and reach every person on the planet with his life saving grace.

In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen

In closing, I’d like to share 2 poems our new brother in Christ wrote,
so you can see his heart and the transforming power of our loving God
and his Son Jesus. Please keep him in your prayers.

Amazing Love…by David Pillatos

That God loves me,
Is an amazing thing
And more amazing still,
That He gave His Son for me.

A sinner and a killer
Once a hater of most men
Arrogant and selfish
Merciless and grim.

And still Christ’s blood was spilled for me
Nails straight through His wrists.
Yet while He was persecuted,
All He said was
“Forgive these men for this.”

Struggle On…by David Pillatos

In this life of pain and tears
Loneliness and many fears
We struggle on, so we can see the light
Of our loving God of wondrous might.

And though the path
Be hard as hell
And paved with broken glass.
We struggle on and sing our song
‘Till we meet Christ at last.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he

hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;

he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach

deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to

the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach

the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19

Your sister and servant of the LORD,

Valerie Rousseau