GT JAIL IS SWEET!

Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 12:27pm | Edit Note | Delete
I'm sure you're probably wondering why in the world I would say something like that about the Co. Jail! I would never have said that in the 'old days!' Well, it's sweet because GOD ROCKS IN THE JAIL, that's why!!

I went back in last night, after what seems like months of not being there, and it was 'sweet!'

I sat in the parking lot and waited for time to go in. I was praying and all day I was asking the Lord to go before me. I didn't want to go in there and just 'be fiends' or just 'go thru the motions!' I really wanted the women to see God, and not me. I had one thought from the Kingdom, in my mind...'BRING THEM INTO THE KINGDOM GOD!' This was my whole purpose for going into the jail, in the first place! I was determined!

So as I was waiting in my vehicle, praying, I suddenly felt my whole body being transformed into the KINGDOM OF GOD! My whole body was BUZZING from the anointing! I could hear it and feel it!! I almost couldn't contain it and I guess I didn't really want to keep it contained!! I wanted it to come out and go forth and do the WORK of The Lord!!

I went in and the officer remembered me as 'Smiddy,' (Who can forget that name?) "Smiddy coming thru!" he said, and after being 'wanned' with a detector he led me to the elevator and I got on and headed to the basement where we have our studies, usually. Two women came over and we waited for another two. When they came in, I recognized one of the women from 'the old days,' and she was so glad to see me and of course I was happy to see her and told her how often I had thought about her thru out the years.

We prayed and the first thing we studied was The Ten Commandments. We discussed what they all meant and how we could not follow this set of God's laws. We all agreed that it was very difficult and we discussed how we chased and followed and worshipped 'other gods and idols.' One of the women said, "I know I have broken all of the commandments except I've never killed anyone before." The others said the same thing. I showed them how we can kill people with our words too. They got it!

After several more comments about 'our words' I told them I believed God wanted us to learn more about the power of our words, and they agreed. We went to the book of James and read how the tongue no man can tame!! They were amazed! They all shared how earlier in the day, all of them had gotten into a huge argumen over 'dumb stuff,' and they started saying nasty stuff to hurt each other with their words and it was 'wild' how God brought them to this topic!! I WAS BUZZING INSIDE!!

We discussed the topic of prayer which brought us to our relationship with the Father. I asked them if they had ever asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins and be their Lord and Saviour. Three of them had, but one couldn't remember, and if she had, she wasn't growing in the Lord.

I shared with them an example of 'them being in a court of law because of the hienous crimes they had committed.' The judge was punishing them with the maximum penalty. But all of a sudden, a stranger comes into the courtroom and tells all of them that He is willing to pay the price for their crimes! He is willing to take their punishment. He is willing to go in their place. The judge agrees and this stranger pays the price for your crimes and you go FREE!'

I told them that that is what Jesus did. He came and took upon him self, their sins, He went in their place, He paid the price and they didn't even know Him!! THEY GOT IT!! So I led them in a prayer of repentance for salvation again and the awesome presence of the Lord was so there!! The Love of the Father was evident and one of them even cried.

This is what I live for! This is why I am here in this earth. Life is souls for the Kingdom of God!!

I gave them copies of the Ten Commandments and scriptures of repentance and salvation. I told them to check them out for themselves, read them, learn them! They said they would and we talked about next week and how excited they are to learn more.
Yolanda shared how she had been asking God to send someone in to really help her study and learn more, and she said, "I had no idea it would be you!" She was very thankful.

The others are, Hope, Shannon and Sarah. Please pray for them as they grow and pray for me as I give to them the TRUTH of God!!

One specific prayer is for the department to agree to switch our study nights to a different night/day. I have to take other classes for my work and they all fall on our study night. I also have another oppurtunity to go into the Leelanau Co. Jail. Pray for Gods perfect will!

If you've ever thought about going into the jail to minister, get in touch! With God, with me, with the chaplains, with the folks at Project Unity For Life! You will not regret it!!