Posts Tagged ‘Jail ministry’

LIVING OUTSIDE OF TIME

Posted: June 15, 2013 in Sunshine Report
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The mind of Christ Google images

The mind of Christ
Google images

Consider for just a moment, if you can, that we live outside of time. It’s almost impossible to think that way because we have always known time. God lives outside of time and he shows us a glimpse of how He sees us. Ephesians 2:6 says, “And raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” That sounds like past tense; we are already seated with Him, right? That must mean that if we are born again, we have heaven inside us.

Recently I heard the phrase “A healthy dose of hell.” What an interesting set of words. The way an unbeliever goes to hell is when he or she never accepts Jesus finished work on the cross, burial and resurrection. Jesus Christ is life. Consider the unbeliever already having hell inside them. Without the skin/flesh we would float away, so really, the flesh is a good thing to have on us. The problem is we think the flesh pleases God. The truth is the flesh is weak; there is nothing inside the flesh or our works that can save us. It’s only the blood and power of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Maybe that is why the Bible says when we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord. Maybe that is how we get to heaven so fast, because we are already there right now, except outside of time.

At the jail last night I talked about how the human race has been bitten by a poisonous snake. His name is Satan and if we don’t get the anti-venom, we will die in our sin, apart from God. Jesus became sin who had no sin of His own, He was buried for 3 days and then God raised Him from the dead. When we take Him into us, He becomes our life. In comparison to the venomous snake, the venom is extracted from the snake, diluted and then injected into a host animal for a period of time so the animal can develop antibodies against the poison. Then the blood is drawn from the host animal and injected into the infected person and immediately the poison is stopped. That is what happens when Jesus comes into our life. Jesus does for us what we can not do for ourselves.

3 ladies handed me notes tonight requesting that we pull them out to talk. One lady said she had issues. Once we had the chance to talk, she revealed to me she is struggling with not knowing what her gifts are. The other thing that bothers her is if the rapture occurs before she gets out of jail, her 2 sons may die and miss heaven. She beats herself up over the fact she never raised her children to know who Jesus is. She knows Him now and her desire is for her boys and her mom to be saved.

My next girl focused our discussion on how to know its God talking to you and not you. The answer is a little tricky, but I explained to her about the independent I. When we are saved, joined to the Lord, we become one Spirit. I always fall back on the assurance if it isn’t about or for the other person, then it probably isn’t from God.

That seemed to be the focus all night because the last girl wanted to know the same thing, yet they haven’t spoken to one another. We don’t disappear from the equation, but there is a joining and an agreement. He who is joined to the Lord is one Spirit. We are the branch, the wife, the cup, the bride and the vessel. We never act independently from Him; we are joined.

I had such a good time sharing the Word and being love to these ladies. They are so precious and they don’t even know it. They have a story to tell, questions to ask, and love to share. I love the hunger I see in some of them. It’s encouraging and it makes me smile when they talk about Jesus like that.

Written by Tracey

JESUS’ GOT THIS

Posted: June 8, 2013 in Sunshine Report
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He's holding on to me

He’s holding on to me

Six notes later, and I have only seen three ladies so far, but now it’s almost midnight, what can I do, but go home and get some rest for work in the morning. I hated to leave without the ladies knowing I tried to see them all. The theme for the night was about storms. The Lord spoke to me about the storm in Mark 4 when Jesus and His disciples were getting in the boat, or vessel, to go to the other side. On the way the wind began to blow and the waves rising to the heights of the boat to the point of taking on more water than they could bail out. Many in the room could relate to this illustration. The world and our sin become too much to bear, and rightly so. We were never meant to carry sin not to mention, living in it. Jesus is in the boat, or vessel, He is resting and is at peace. If you think that the Jesus who is in your life is sleeping on the job and doesn’t care what happens to you, then you have the wrong viewpoint of who Jesus is because He’s got you. The sea obeys His voice because the sea belongs to Him, the vessel belongs to Him, and everything belongs to the Master. He loves us very much and the storms in our life are meant to propel us into His arms of strength and power.

The other three ministers were also called to talk about storms. Billie Jo talked about the storm that came up around her house in the country and she saw the wheat field bend from the power of the wind. She explained it wasn’t the wheat’s fault they were bending, but the wind was making them bend. She said, bowing as in, to the Father.

Margo was next and she too, talked about wheat and how Ruth in the Bible found favor with Boaz and he commanded his servants to let Ruth glean more that she needed of wheat. How we have favor with God as we face storms in our life, yet we have more than enough because God provides.

Joanna shared last with her words of wisdom about the storms of being hemmed in and behind and before, Jesus laying His hand of love on us. She also taught us John 17:13 “and now I come to you and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” Did you notice the passage said His joy? Because His joy is everlasting it’s not in our circumstances and certainly not in our feelings.

Margo asked for volunteers for a demonstration and then asked for the roll of tissue. She threw the first girl the roll and said, “Tear you off a piece.” The next girl did the same and so on. “Now,” she said, “for every square of T.P. say what God is doing in your life right now.” The first girl stands up and faces the crowd, a little shy, and says she is thankful for her relationship with her husband and is being restored. Another lady said she was thankful she was teachable, alive and desires Jesus. This went on until the last volunteer said something I will never forget. You see, she only tore off one square, so she tore it in half so she could praise Him more.

The counseling went great and there was a theme with them also. There were two things I shared with each of them separately about Hebrews 4:12 about soul and spirit, joints and marrow, thoughts and intentions and the Word of God divides, pierces and discerns them all. We get hung up on the ins and outs of life and beat ourselves up for it, when all along we were meant to move; yet have our rest in the Lord Jesus Christ where our spirit lives joined to His Spirit. Some of us think it’s all about us, but see it just involves us.

The other point I shared was how we were deceived into eating of the wrong tree when we were in Adam in the garden. We are still eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, when we need to be partaking of the tree of life, which is Jesus. There is a lot to learn and a lot to listen to as we journey through this land, but just remember whatever storm you are in, just got out of, or getting ready to enter, Jesus’ got you. He is not going anywhere; “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.” Thank you, Jesus for your promises are true.

Written by Tracey

THANK GOD FOR THE GIFT OF HIS SPIRIT

Posted: June 7, 2013 in JAIL STORIES
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Before getting in front of the guys at jail tonight I was in booking talking to the Chaplain. As I walked toward the door to head down the hall another minister, talking with the Chaplain said, “Gonna have fun tonight?” I responded, “I know I am, I don’t know about the others.” That’s how it is though isn’t it? We choose whether to have fun or not. In fact we choose lots of things in life. This actually tied into what I shared with them later about not being controlled by our emotions. Our spirit joined to the Holy Spirit is really the one in charge.

I shared a little bit about myself and how I came to be born again and turned to John 14. After sharing with them about Jesus’ promise to send the comforter we turned to Galatians 5. We read “Walk after the Spirit and you won’t fulfill the desire (lust) of the flesh.” From there we went to Hebrews 4:12 which has become one of my go to verses as of late.

So Jesus promised the Spirit, Paul told us to walk after the Spirit, and the author of Hebrews told us God can show us how to differentiate between the soul and spirit. You know it’s easy to tell someone you just need to walk after the Spirit. The problem occurs when they haven’t a clue what that means or how it looks in the real world. This is precisely what I wanted to talk with them about tonight.

It seems there are many, many Christians walking around in the flesh simply because no one has taken the time to teach them. I’m not saying I’m the expert here, but I have come to a few conclusions on the matter.

When the term flesh is used it means we are living in our soul/body realm as if we are independent of God. In other words, if we are walking in our souls, or flesh, we are being lead around by our emotional and intellectual inclinations as well as our bodily appetites. The best I can tell is since God created us humans to live in His plan was to be the Lord of our lives and rule from our spirit, but when Adam sinned he, with the help of the enemy, turned mankind inside out. Man began to live life according to how he felt or thought and whatever dictates his body demanded, leaving the spirit out in the cold, as it were.

Apparently Adam’s disobedience caused our human spirit and God’s Spirit to part ways. Adam no longer had God to lead him because he had bitten into the deception that he could be “like God.” Rather than being like God he actually became little more than a glorified animal. Animals of course are lead around by their instincts. Adam found himself being lead around by his bodies’ need for sex and food. Of course this is not the life God intended for us and thank God he didn’t leave us to it, but instead he sent his Son to make us the whole human being we were always meant to be.

As I spoke with the guys in jail tonight I spent most of the time talking to them about the difference between soul and spirit. I put three plastic chairs in front of them one for each part: spirit, soul and body. After giving them a visual of what man looked like after sin I showed them what we are like now that the Spirit of God has come back into his Temple.

The first example I grabbed the body/soul chairs and had them bumping up against each other saying, “Hey, I’m hungry, that doesn’t seem to add up, I don’t feel well, I want sex, I’m mad…” Showing that’s all you can expect in that realm. Without the Spirit of God there can be no real peace. Once the Spirit of God joins to your human spirit there is a resurrection of sorts that takes place. Your formerly dead spirit is enlivened. Now your spirit joined to His Spirit is in charge and the body, soul has to take a back seat. They are no longer given free reign and they have to submit themselves to God.

For the most part all of the guys really seemed to be listening. For my final illustration I sat one chair by itself and told them it was a pretty woman. Of course that takes a little bit of imagination, but they were following me. I told them the enemy will use our sexual desires to entice us into sin. Of course they all chuckled but knew I was telling the truth. On the other hand I said, “God is looking at the same situation saying “Look to me, look to me.” You see these types of situations are always an opportunity to sin or an opportunity for faith. It is up to us to decide. We either go with our flesh or with the Spirit. The beauty of the whole thing is we now actually can see these things for what they are whereas before we were simply living according to impulse and cravings which always meant sin.

Thank God for the gift of his Spirit!

Written by Louie

CONFESSION IS HEALING

Posted: June 2, 2013 in Sunshine Report
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Light person

Google Images

   “Tell everyone in the cell the back up singers are coming to sing for you next week, you won’t want to miss it, so invite everyone to church next week,” said Joyce Zander last Thursday. All 40 women showed up and boy, were they excited! Not only were they excited but thirteen ministers showed up as well. I can’t remember when that many from the outside wanted to come to jail, but most importantly, Jesus was there and He made Himself known in a wonderful way. He used Moma-Cleon Dewey, Cindy Larson, her sister, Suzie Young, their friend, Cheryl Iquinta, Edith Reed, Liz Dial, Gena Henson, Margo Leneave, Carla Henderson, Billy Jo Matthis, Terry Hancock, Joanna Mack, me and Joyce Zander, of course. It was amazing to see the faces of the girls seeing and feeling how much Jesus loves them through the power of music and the message they brought. I am so thankful and blessed that God includes us in these moments that are precious and life-changing. These inmates will never be the same after this night of worship. This one inmate asked me to pray with her, she said she was tired of being out there in the world. Tears streaming down her face as she spoke caused tears to come to my eyes. She confessed to me she wants a different life for herself, as she wiped her tear off my hand with her tissue. We prayed, and as I walked away from her I thought of the power of the Holy Spirit in that room who was drawing them into a relationship with Him and how it feels so good to be loved by Him.

    After the service, which by the way, we never wanted to end, there were several ladies who wanted to talk. One in particular was the one who cried on my hand; she wanted to ask more questions of how to get a God-centered life. She made a few decisions like, not calling the people she always calls, and making church and bible reading a regular part of her life. Liz Dial shared in the talk with her and told her, she would continue to pray for her long after tonight.

   The next girl I listened to filled in some blanks from her story the week before. I know it sounds weird to us because we know how this all works, but see, she left out the whole truth last week when we talked. It bothered her that she lied to me; the Holy Spirit wouldn’t leave her alone until she cleared up a few things. Later she told me she always wondered what people meant by, “God spoke to me.” She doesn’t have to wonder anymore. I left that visit knowing that this girls’ life has changed for the better already. She is free to hear from God and her relationship with Him is sweeter.

   The final lady who wanted to talk was one whom I have not spoken with before, but wanted to hear her story. Before she came to jail, she was a successful business woman according to the world. Her life was a mess according to God, because she had been in a relationship with a woman for 19 years. Recently, the woman moved out, sold all her belongings and kept the money. She has nothing left, everything is gone. She became sick with shingles and had to be put in isolation, and she was miserable inside. God put her in a place where He can speak to her and she listened. I don’t know what is going on with her sexual preferences, but I do know that God will take care of that too. He saves all of us, not just the church going part. Isn’t that great?

    I didn’t leave the jail until after midnight, but I wouldn’t trade one second of what God was doing in these people’s life. He is amazing and I get to watch Him and be a part of His Glory.

Written by Tracey

THE POWER IS IN CHRIST

Posted: May 11, 2013 in Sunshine Report
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Mark Thomas Photo by Tracey Lewis

Mark Thomas
Photo by Tracey Lewis

For two weeks now, I have been on my way to the jail for ministry but couldn’t complete the task. A mandatory meeting kept me away the first week, although I was able to join the team after the service and meet with some gals for council. This last week was a little different due to an unexpected turn of events. On Thursday morning I get a call from Louie’s (my husband) workplace informing me he was in need of an ambulance. He was diagnosed with Pneumothorax which in this case was a partial collapsed lung. I had decided if the emergency room admitted him into a room, I would stay with him, but if they released him to go home, I would go to the jail. I made the right decision by staying with him, although I had some who gave me permission to go. It was tough because I have a burning desire to minister to the ladies in Christian County Jail. But what made it worth it all was when Louie and I got home and settled in after all that time in the hospital, he said, “Thanks for sticking by me.”

   You can imagine my excitement when this time I was able to make it. God never ceases to amaze me as I see Him touching these ladies who are incarcerated. During the service this woman stands up to tell everyone Hell is real. She heard Bill Wiese telling his story of 23 minutes in hell. God gave her visions as he was talking and it shook her to her core. Her revelation was that she knew she loves God, but always saw it as her love to hang on to. But she shared with us how she no longer wants to hang on to God’s love, but to give it away. Her desire is that everyone hears the gospel of Jesus’ love for us, how He hung on the cross, died, and was buried, rose again and is giving us the opportunity for heaven. “Hell is real, ya’ll,” she said, “You don’t want to go there.” That was the power of Christ in her showing on the outside.

  After the service, “Bucky’s note said “I have some serious questions to ask you about me.” She had heard from someone that if you don’t have a date to say you were saved, then you might not be saved. Her voice rose louder to say, “I know I am saved, Miss Tracey, I don’t know the date.” We talked about it and in the end she didn’t want to lie or make one up, but said she was going to claim the day that Jesus died on the cross as her date of salvation. I thought that was a great conclusion to her question.

   The last woman I talked to was inquiring about her relationship with her husband. He filed for divorce before he left for Afghanistan, now he is back and she doesn’t know if she is still married to him or not. She didn’t want to ask him, but she wants to know. She had heard about Louie and I being married twice and all the frustration and struggles that went along with that. She knew God fixed things in our relationship and wanted to know how God did that. The best advice I could give her was to trust God whether He restored her marriage or not. There was a time Louie was going to the Altar whether I went with him or not; thankfully I went along and God worked it out. The most important relationship we can have is in Christ.

   So, the message I wanted to bring tonight was about knowing God has good things for us whether it feels like it or looks like it or not. Three verses came to me, Jeremiah 29:11, Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28, all three verses talk about the goodness of God. We need to realize that God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We all come to Jesus the same way and that is humbly and knowing we can’t do “it” on our own. It is only with and through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. It looks like it is our power, but it’s really the Holy Spirit’s power working in us. We don’t disappear from the scene, because God wants to use us and He wants to elevate us. He doesn’t expect us to do this for ourselves. The flesh is weak, not evil; God uses the flesh for His glory. The power is in Christ and He is in us.

Written by Tracey

WHY GO TO THE JAIL?

Posted: May 6, 2013 in JAIL STORIES
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I realize there are some people that simply just don’t get why Tracey and I go to the jail. For some the response is “Those people deserve to be there, they broke the law and that’s what they get.” What they don’t realize is we agree with them, for the most part. If you break the law then you pay the price it’s as simple as that no argument here. On the other hand my question would be “What about the grace of God do you think they don’t deserve that?”

You see God’s grace is undeserved and yet we have received it therefore want everyone else to have the same opportunity. We don’t have any delusions that we can solve all of the problems in our society or change the fact many will go in and out of  jail repeatedly. What we do know though is if these men and women are simply locked up for their crimes only to be released back into society, without telling them about Jesus, there will be no significant change in them. You see even though you will occasionally here the term “Rehabilitation” associated with jail and prison for the most part that isn’t what they are for. Granted they do allow many programs such as twelve step programs, anger management, church services etc. It is my belief the only way they are going to really come out of the lifestyle of crime is for them to meet Jesus Christ. Then they may come to see a life of crime only gets them more of the same-jail and prison.

Another argument from detractors is “That’s just jailhouse religion, they’re not really changed.” Once again I can’t argue with that at all. Many of the men and women we meet know the Bible forward and backward and yet they continue to end up in jail. To me this isn’t so different from my own life either. I went to church all the time as a child and heard the Bible stories too. Tracey even told me “You always seemed to know the correct answer but you weren’t living it.” All I can say is none of us gain salvation or a heart change simply by knowing the Bible. It is only when, like Peter, we proclaim for ourselves “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” that we are transformed.

One of the many things said about Jesus was “He eats with publicans and sinners” He really is a friend of sinners and I thank God for that. I am so thankful he said, “He came for the sick, the well have no need of a doctor.” He came to “seek and save the lost” and he is still doing that today whether it’s in jail, prison, nursing home, grocery store, church building, workplace etc. At this point in our lives God has us placed in jail and prison and we tell them the same thing we tell any that are willing to listen and that is God loves you. He gave his son for you that you might have life everlasting and fellowship with him. For me I can’t see how anyone calling themselves a Christian could be against others hearing about Jesus Christ and what he has done for us on the cross no matter where they are.

Written by Louie

LIVING IN GREEN LIGHTS

Posted: April 27, 2013 in Sunshine Report
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Green lights downtown Internet Photo

Green lights downtown
Internet Photo

“Come on, we are having a meeting in the boss’s office” she said on Tuesday morning at work. The ten of us piled in there waiting to hear why we were called together. “There is a mandatory meeting for Thursday April 25, 2013”. Dread filled my heart as I knew I wouldn’t be able to get out of it. Thursdays are my opportunity to teach at the jail and I would have to miss it. So I went back to my desk, stared at the computer screen, swinging my leg back and forth as I argued with God. “This is my day at the jail” I told Him, “I won’t get to teach and Carla will”, I continued. I was mad. After this went on and I finally got quiet, I heard Him say to me, “It’s not about you.” That put an end to it. Peace came over me and I dealt with all the emotions that came with the news and by lunch time, I was fine.

You know God is up to something when your routine changes and here is what happened. The day of the mandatory meeting a co-worker, who lived too far away to go home before the meeting, wanted to go to Zaxby’s, (chicken restaurant) to eat before the meeting. The first person I saw as we entered the building was a lady who had gotten out of jail, but we lost contact with her. We hugged necks and she gave me her new phone number. Later in the evening, that number would come in handy as others wondered what happened to her.

We go the meeting which is scheduled to start at six o clock, but there was a very long line in the h’orderve’s table. So technically it started after six thirty. The meeting went well, it was interesting, but I kept thinking of this room with everyone dressed in orange. My heart and mind was at the jail, praying for them, wanting the girls to let God change them tonight. My focus shifted as I began to listen to the different speakers, they made me feel like a part of the company and like they cared about me. I sort of felt bad that I was looking for an opportunity to bail first chance I got. But there it was, an opening, had to make a break for it, and then I met eye to eye with the President of the company. He looked at me, nodded his head a little and said, “See ya later, with a smile.” I knew it was okay.

Now I have ten minutes to get to the jail without speeding. I get to the first traffic light; it’s green. I pull up to the next light; it’s green. The next one and the next one; every last light was green from the convention center the entire way down town to the jail. 7:58 I pull into the jail parking lot, thinking to myself, “God must have wanted me to be here pretty bad, because He made it happen.”

I walk into the jail, the door pops open, I go inside, get my visitor tag; a deputy is willing to take me to 954 where the service is. I go inside, the ladies get quiet as I peek around the corner, and all I hear is, “MISS TRACEY, YOU MADE IT.” After the clapping stopped, I found my seat in the back of the room. A little later Joyce asks me to close in prayer which I was happy to do.

I may have missed speaking to the group, but I didn’t miss council with my two ladies that I love to hear from. The first council was “granddaughter” (not her real name) She wanted to tell me how she has made things right with her friend and her grandma. She wanted to pray and to tell me she learned her lesson and wants to do things differently in her life when she gets out.

The second council was with a lady I call, “Bucky” she wanted me to see some pictures of her 2 sons, her mom and her 2 dogs. She also wanted to tell me she had a pity party the day before and how looking back on it, she feels really dumb. She is beginning to trust Jesus more these days. Bucky is learning to focus on the positives in her life; she comes to the services and loves when people pray for her. She is looking at some serious time, but is asking God to put her in the work release program.

I listened, I prayed and I quoted God’s word. The one thing that kept coming to me as I spoke with both ladies was about how we live our lives in green lights. Meaning, go, live as you know God is pleased with you. Slow down when there is caution, stop when He presses on you to confess with Him about sin and then keep going. That’s how I got to the jail tonight.

Written by Tracey

I WITNESSED A MIRACLE

Posted: April 20, 2013 in Sunshine Report
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Rainbow_1

Photo by Tracey Lewis

Have you been in a situation where you were the “new guy”, feeling uncomfortable or self conscience? Maybe you were different from the others who were around you, maybe you have something to hide and they are asking too many questions. Maybe they don’t talk to you at all. I have had this experience and the woman at the well had this experience too. She didn’t have any lady friends which is one reason she came at noon, the hottest part of the day, to draw water from the well. So the day Jesus was there and asked her for a drink, she was surprised he would talk to her, especially because she was a Samaritan which meant she was half Jew and half Samaritan. He told her everything she had ever done and she was ashamed to admit she had been involved with at least six men. It was as if she was trying to satisfy her soul with men, searching for that something only God could provide. Jesus then revealed himself to her and promised her a well of living water. He told her of when the true worshipers would worship in Spirit and in Truth. God is Spirit and He’s looking for those that worship in spirit and truth. As soon as she told the townspeople they came to see for themselves. Looking up they saw the fields which are white for harvest. She realized that she had been a sinner, lost, searching, but Jesus was waiting for her and she believed in Him.

She said she could relate to the woman at the well because she has felt uncomfortable since she got to jail a week ago tomorrow, she felt as though she didn’t belong here. There are others around her in the cell that has formed clicks. She said, she had been told her whole life; she was good for nothing and worthless. She was the one I talked to in the law box. She poured out her soul to me and cried many tears. Her story sounded familiar to me because it was like the one I had lived many, many years ago. I comforted her with the words that Jesus used in John 4, He knows everything she has ever done and He loves her. I hated to hear the words she said to me, all I could say was I was sorry. She is in a place for God to change her and this is the time for it to happen. She is hoping to get out of jail when she goes to court tomorrow, but what if you don’t, I asked her. She said, “There’s nothing I can do about it anyway, I might as well trust God.” She has had a rough married life and has 15 ulcers to prove it. She has a 14 year old son she is looking after and her husband is living with another woman in her house as we speak. She doesn’t know where she would go if she did get out. So, we prayed, I asked God to heal her of her ulcers, give her a clear mind, and a good nights’ rest. After saying “amen” I got ready to stand up, when I heard her say,” something just happened to me, I can’t explain it, but the tightening in my chest that I have had for two days, is gone.” She was crying, and said, I’m happy, but I’m scared.” That’s when I knew God was healing her so she would learn to rely on Jesus and not on a man or anybody else for that matter. Hallelujah!! God is a good God.

The other lady I talked to told me she has a younger son who never talked of Jesus until now. Since she has been in Christian County Jail he has written her a letter and told her of how he is praying for a job. He got the job, knew it was of God, now tells her he has found a church. He attends the church and goes up front to have the preacher pray for him. He and his “running around buddy” now go to church every Sunday. She also has another older son, who we are praying for too. We know that God has good plans for all of them. I am so excited for these ladies who share their lives with me.
There are so many miracles that go on all time all around us if we would have eyes to see and ears to hear. Christ is making Himself known to all of us. I got to witness this one.

Written by Tracey

THE KING SEEKS US OUT

Posted: April 13, 2013 in Sunshine Report
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Kentucky Skies

The Heavens open up

When speaking to the ladies in jail I like to start with a joke. Sometimes they get it and other times well lets just say it requires a little further explanation. Tonight they got it. In fact it broke up the whole room. Sometimes being funny in such a serious place as jail is a little touchy, but everyone needs a little laughter from time to time don’t they? After the laughter died down, Joyce Zander, the Chaplin said, “now you have to reel them back in.”

It wasn’t an easy task, but I proclaimed we have someone who is seeking to have a relationship with us too, and we are scared He might kill us for the evil we have done in our lives. 2 Samuel 9, records the story of King David showing kindness to Mephibosheth, who was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul. The King and his son Jonathan both died in battle at the same time. When Mephibosheth’s nurse heard the news, she was so scared of what might happen to the boy so she fled, and while doing so, Mephibosheth fell and crippled both his feet. Much later in the story, David seeks out the descendants of Jonathan and learns of his son. He invites him and the entire household to come and tells them “You shall eat at my table regularly.”

The amazing thing is the very name Mephibosheth means, to be ashamed, to be disappointed or delayed. He lived in a place called Lo-Debar which means, pasture-less. Think about this, he can’t walk, can’t grow a garden and has no place to raise animals. He had nothing to give to the King. So Mephibosheth fell on his face before the King and declared, “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?” Can you imagine how Mephibosheth must have felt? The girls sitting in orange could tell you. You could have heard a pin drop in that place. We have all felt unworthy to be in the presence of the King, but no matter, the King loves us because of who Jesus is. Just like Mephibosheth was loved by David because of David’s covenant with Jonathan. Although Mephibosheth felt this way, he ate at the King’s table regularly as one of the King’s sons even though he was lame in both feet.

I didn’t know who this spoke to tonight, but as one of the ladies was leaving she hugged me and said, “That story was for me, thank you.” I thank God that He loves us enough to seek us out and love us AS His son or daughter.

One of the two girls I met with after ward was one who was out of jail, had a job, had a car, lived with her grandmother, but violated her probation. She is angry at herself for listening to the enemy. Through her frustration she expressed her determination to get back up and do things differently. She is hoping she didn’t catch new charges and can serve out her sentence and go home. I am excited to see what happens because I know God has a good plan for her.

Annastaja is the next lady I met with; she doesn’t mind that I use her real name because she is looking forward to a different life than the one that keeps her coming back to jail. This is the longest she has had to sit here and never wants to do this again. I told her there is one way that can happen for her and that is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul with all your mind and strength. When we love God more than anything and let Him love us, supernatural things happen. He has already made a way because He is the way, and He seeks us out because He loves us.

Written by Tracey

SHE GAVE THEM HOPE

Posted: April 6, 2013 in Sunshine Report
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Stacy transformed Photo provided

Stacy transformed
Photo provided

Using one word, I could describe Thursday night in jail as amazing. Jesus is the one who made it so amazing, but He did it through an ex-inmate of Christian County Jail. Her name is Stacy Cagle Kelsey Chamlee, she brought with her two close friends, Georgia and Tori who traveled all day to get here from Georgia. It was well worth their trip, they said. “I wanted to bring them hope from someone who has been where they are,” Stacy said after reflecting on the night.

There was an inmate in the audience who had been in the same cell together all those years ago. She recalled how all the others thought Stacy was an informant and no one knew her because she was from out of town. She and her husband were stopped at a rest stop in Oak Grove with drugs on them and later were arrested again in Christian County for two warrants. She tells her story after kicking off her flip flops and leaning against the wall in front of the room full of ladies dressed in orange. She starts off by telling us she wore “whites” in honor of the ones she came to bring hope to. Tori yells from the back of the room, “she made us wear “whites” too. The whole room breaks out into laughter.

But the laughter quickly turns solemn when she speaks of her “rap sheet” of things she is not proud of, but she’s quick to tell how God showed her that old life of hers is like a stained glass window and for her not to tell her story would be like throwing a rock right in the middle of it. You could tell she didn’t want to dwell on or brag about her past, but makes the point she’s no stranger to that life. She looks down a couple of times as she relives the moments that hurt the most, not just her but her family. It doesn’t take long for the darkness to become light as she beams with excitement when she tells us of her passion for youngsters and older folks. God has made her into a Sunday school teacher to young children who she delights over. She takes another drink of water and she continues to praise God for the transformation in her life, she tells us she is taking college classes online.

Anything is possible with God; she proclaims and says she has a song for us. “I’m not a singer, but God told me He wasn’t asking me to be a singer, but to sing THIS song.” Tori put the CD into the player and she begins to use sign language or dancing. I can’t remember the song, but I remember how beautiful she was using motions to describe the song. My mind went to a place where I met with God, and He blessed me through her obedience. “Store your treasures in heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” I believe this verse in Matt 6:20 is talking about people. People go to heaven, invest in people, love them, forgive them, and give them hope. There is hope in Jesus Christ; He is our hope!

After the girls had a chance to ask questions and just before time to leave, the girls formed a circle. The ministers had an opportunity to pray for each female who wanted prayer. Nobody refused. The power of God was in that circle, tears were flowing and hugs were plentiful. One lady I prayed with said she was having nightmares about the time her dad molested her and asked to be prayed for. When I asked her if any of the other ministers had prayed with her, she said she had not told any of them. I prayed with her, but I didn’t know what to pray. But one thing I know, she forgives him. Another lady wanted to pray for me and asked God to bless me and thanked Him for anointing me with His Spirit.

The night continued to grow into early morning, and three counseling’s later He had done what He came here to do through me. I never get tired of being His called. I never get tired of seeing the miracles He is doing through His saints. We believe in faith that many ladies who were in the jail this particular night will come back to the jail after years of sobriety and minister as Stacy has. I am truly amazed by Him.

Written by Tracey

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