In that day I will restore David's fallen
tent. I will repair its broken places, restore
its ruins, and build it as it used to be.
Amos 9:11
I am writing about myself today...
tent. I will repair its broken places, restore
its ruins, and build it as it used to be.
Amos 9:11
I am writing about myself today...
Looking back, my life had once been a big mess. I committed terrible crimes, and I've done irreversible damage to many lives. I know, too, of the stronghold Satan had had upon me in the past. Nevertheless, I have no one to blame but myself. I won't deny it. I did wrong. I feel ashamed. I'm sorry, and I wish I could undo the cruel acts of violence I perpetrated upon those who'd done me no wrong. And I've had to live with the guilt.
Furthermore, in the process of all this I also damaged my own life, having now spent almost thirty years in prison. I've caused shame, embarrassment and pain to my own family as well. Even after all these years, I remain estranged from most of them. They left on the day of my arrest, and I've never heard from any of them again, with the exception of a very few who've, thankfully, stuck with me. But the loss has been difficult because I still love and miss them.
Yet God, in His mercy, has since picked up all the pieces of my life that I'd shattered in my self-destructiveness. Beginning with the day that I told the Lord how sorry I was for what I'd done and asked for His forgiveness, from this moment onward God has begun to restore me.
It has been a slow process, however, with many ups and downs on my part. But God has been faithful. He has picked me up and placed me back on the path. In addition, my mind has long since been healed. My life has been spared. I am no longer under a dark cloud of condemnation, but I have been "saved by grace" instead. His blood has washed away all my sins. The Lord has made all things new in my life.
Today I have hope. I have usefulness and purpose. I've got precious friends, both inside and outside of prison. And there are many who've received encouragement and inspiration, knowing what God has done for me. My story provides hope for them, too.
So as the Lord had rebuilt and restored King David's life, He has done the same for me. King David was a man who had committed very serious sins. He even took a man's life in order to get his wife. God punished David. But when King David asked for mercy, he got it.
I destroyed my life and ruined it. However, Jesus, in His mercy and compassion, took pity upon me. He has been rebuilding and restoring my life ever since. I don't deserve it, and I could never repay Him. But as long as I have breath, I will worship His wonderful name. And as long as I have hands and fingers, I will glorify and honor the Lord by writing about Him.
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. Amen!
D.B.
Furthermore, in the process of all this I also damaged my own life, having now spent almost thirty years in prison. I've caused shame, embarrassment and pain to my own family as well. Even after all these years, I remain estranged from most of them. They left on the day of my arrest, and I've never heard from any of them again, with the exception of a very few who've, thankfully, stuck with me. But the loss has been difficult because I still love and miss them.
Yet God, in His mercy, has since picked up all the pieces of my life that I'd shattered in my self-destructiveness. Beginning with the day that I told the Lord how sorry I was for what I'd done and asked for His forgiveness, from this moment onward God has begun to restore me.
It has been a slow process, however, with many ups and downs on my part. But God has been faithful. He has picked me up and placed me back on the path. In addition, my mind has long since been healed. My life has been spared. I am no longer under a dark cloud of condemnation, but I have been "saved by grace" instead. His blood has washed away all my sins. The Lord has made all things new in my life.
Today I have hope. I have usefulness and purpose. I've got precious friends, both inside and outside of prison. And there are many who've received encouragement and inspiration, knowing what God has done for me. My story provides hope for them, too.
So as the Lord had rebuilt and restored King David's life, He has done the same for me. King David was a man who had committed very serious sins. He even took a man's life in order to get his wife. God punished David. But when King David asked for mercy, he got it.
I destroyed my life and ruined it. However, Jesus, in His mercy and compassion, took pity upon me. He has been rebuilding and restoring my life ever since. I don't deserve it, and I could never repay Him. But as long as I have breath, I will worship His wonderful name. And as long as I have hands and fingers, I will glorify and honor the Lord by writing about Him.
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. Amen!
D.B.
