Hello dearly beloved! A caterpillar changes into a beautiful butterfly. Rain turns into snow, or a tadpole turns into a frog. Who would have ever thought it’s possible? God often uses creation to teach us lessons about His power in nature. This power is also displayed in men’s and women’s lives at the Polk County Jail. We watch them go from ruin, devastation, grievous wounds and being at rock bottom to newly transformed lives. In those moments I stand amazed at the grace and power of Christ, don’t you? Every one of you is playing a huge part in His grand design of changing lives through your prayers and financial gifts. Thank You!
People are so empty without Jesus in their hearts and lives. We all try to use cheap substitutes to fulfill our most basic need to know and worship God. We’ll worship something or someone else if we don’t worship Him. When we were created in the image of God, He hard-wired humanity to love and worship Him. That’s our first purpose. God wants our worship to be motivated by love, thanksgiving, and delight, not duty or works. We were made for a relationship, not to practice religion. Only Christ can fill the void in one’s heart.
Often those who’ve come to know the Lord have experienced a family or friend loss due to death. If this occurs outside of the jail, they don’t often run to find the family of God. They isolate. This nearly always spells trouble because isolation brings destructive temptations. Lies from the enemy tempt them to handle their loss with other coping mechanisms such as alcohol or drugs so they won’t feel anything. I tell the inmates, “Love is painful, but if you hate someone you don’t care.” In jail it’s a much safer place to find out bad news, because there is community nearby with many who will pray and console them in their pain.
Often loss is a platform for me to share the brevity of life. It helps them see how precious and short life really is. In that moment I have seen people’s hearts soften to the gospel message and watched their lives be transformed by the power of Christ. Amen!
