If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.
John 14:14
It's hard to believe how little I have written in my journal for this month...
John 14:14
It's hard to believe how little I have written in my journal for this month...
After a series of intense trials, I am still feeling very tired. But little by little my strength is returning. With all that has happened to my body in recent weeks, it was all very humbling. My God continues to be more real to me than ever before.
For much of this month I have been busy answering my correspondence. I had a number of overseas letters to answer from friends in Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, and Iceland. I still have a pile of both overseas and domestic letters to do yet. It's always a blessing and a joy to be able to encourage other Christians in this walk of faith, and they have certainly encouraged me, too.
Then, this past week, there were several "prayer emergencies." These were situations which needed to be prayed about immediately. At the beginning of the week, one of the men in my fellowship who happens to also live in my cellblock, received word that his mother was admitted to the hospital in critical condition, with heart and liver problems. He came over to my cell, very downcast, and asked for prayer. I prayed for him right on the spot.
During the days following, everyone in the chapel was joining in prayer about this. Just earlier today, thank God, this "brother in Christ" received word that his mother was doing much better. The chaplain even arranged for him to talk to his mom over the phone in her hospital ward. Lord willing, she should be back in her home in a few days.
The second prayer emergency came shortly after the first one. An inmate, who is a Muslim, came to the chapel asking for prayer because his mother went into an unexpected coma. The family had already been gathering around her bed in a New York City hospital, thinking that she may not have much more time.
It's so ironic that, here is a Muslim who, during a time of crisis, came running right into the Christian Community's chapel to seek divine help. God sure does have a sense of humor!
But it just so happens that I have known this man for a number of years. I have shared my faith with him several times in the past. We had a good talk, and I encouraged him to seek Christ's help for his mother, and not to be ashamed to do so. I told this man that he can pray to God right in his prison cell if need be. I hope, too, that somehow the true Gospel seed will be sown in his heart.
Finally, the last "emergency" happened a few days ago when an inmate, who is a fairly new believer in Christ, received word that a cousin made a serious suicide attempt. Ironically, when he got the news, it happened to be during our Wednesday morning prayer meeting. So we had some Christians present who were immediately able to go into prayer for him and for his hurting cousin.
I know the Lord will bring much good out of all these things.
D.B.
For much of this month I have been busy answering my correspondence. I had a number of overseas letters to answer from friends in Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, and Iceland. I still have a pile of both overseas and domestic letters to do yet. It's always a blessing and a joy to be able to encourage other Christians in this walk of faith, and they have certainly encouraged me, too.
Then, this past week, there were several "prayer emergencies." These were situations which needed to be prayed about immediately. At the beginning of the week, one of the men in my fellowship who happens to also live in my cellblock, received word that his mother was admitted to the hospital in critical condition, with heart and liver problems. He came over to my cell, very downcast, and asked for prayer. I prayed for him right on the spot.
During the days following, everyone in the chapel was joining in prayer about this. Just earlier today, thank God, this "brother in Christ" received word that his mother was doing much better. The chaplain even arranged for him to talk to his mom over the phone in her hospital ward. Lord willing, she should be back in her home in a few days.
The second prayer emergency came shortly after the first one. An inmate, who is a Muslim, came to the chapel asking for prayer because his mother went into an unexpected coma. The family had already been gathering around her bed in a New York City hospital, thinking that she may not have much more time.
It's so ironic that, here is a Muslim who, during a time of crisis, came running right into the Christian Community's chapel to seek divine help. God sure does have a sense of humor!
But it just so happens that I have known this man for a number of years. I have shared my faith with him several times in the past. We had a good talk, and I encouraged him to seek Christ's help for his mother, and not to be ashamed to do so. I told this man that he can pray to God right in his prison cell if need be. I hope, too, that somehow the true Gospel seed will be sown in his heart.
Finally, the last "emergency" happened a few days ago when an inmate, who is a fairly new believer in Christ, received word that a cousin made a serious suicide attempt. Ironically, when he got the news, it happened to be during our Wednesday morning prayer meeting. So we had some Christians present who were immediately able to go into prayer for him and for his hurting cousin.
I know the Lord will bring much good out of all these things.
D.B.