I have a praise report to share courtesy of my Lord Jesus Christ, my friend, Reverend Don DeYoung, and also courtesy of Chaplains Rich Rienstra and Dan Thompson, all from the State of Michigan...
| At the behest of Rev. Don DeYoung (Second Reformed Church in the city of Kalamazoo), I was asked to give a written message of encouragement to the chaplains and inmates at the Ionia-Bellamy Creek Correctional Center. On August 23rd my friend Don was scheduled to speak at a special event known as "Celebration Fellowship." |  |
So after a time of private prayer, I believe the Lord gave me the words to share. I then sent the message to Reverend DeYoung. He, in turn, made numerous copies of it and gave it to each of the volunteers and prisoners who were present in the chapel on that day. Don also read the message out loud before giving his own sermon. Later Don wrote to tell me that my message was well received. And I am of course exceedingly thankful for the opportunity that was afforded me to minister to volunteers and inmates alike in another state. Reverend Don said that about forty people were present, too.
Therefore, with this praise report in mind, here is the message that I shared with those at the Bellamy Creek facility, with some minor modifications to make it suitable for anyone who's reading this journal. In addition, feel free to copy and paste the message and pass it on if you think it would encourage someone else.
NEVER STOP TRUSTING IN GOD
- A Message for those at Bellamy Creek Correctional Center in Michigan -
Hello everyone! My name is David Berkowitz, and I'd like to greet all those who are attending the Celebration Fellowship event. I am grateful to Reverend DeYoung, and to Chaplains Rich Rienstra and Dan Thompson for the opportunity to share what I hope will be a message of encouragement. And of course I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has made this possible.
Several Sundays ago I was speaking in my church which is behind the walls of New York State's Sullivan Correctional Facility. I asked each man to take a moment to reflect on where he would most likely be right now if not for the Lord's mercy, and for His divine intervention in our lives. I told them that I shudder to think what could have happened to me if the Lord Jesus did not reach out to me when He did. I'd have surely been dead, I said. More than likely, I'd have committed suicide much earlier in my sentence because I felt that my life was worthless and that I had no hope. I said that I was filled with guilt, too, and it was eating me alive. But then a fellow prisoner appeared, and he began to share the gospel with me. He told me that Jesus Christ loved me very much and wanted to forgive me.
Fortunately, through a fellow prisoner's patient efforts, I eventually asked God to forgive all my sins, and I put my faith in Jesus Christ. This was twenty-three years ago, and ten years into my sentence. I also know that prison is a place none of us want to be in. We know that it's a place of pain, frustration and despair.
Even in seemingly little ways, doing time can be demeaning and confusing. Where I am, for example, it seems as if the staff is always inventing and enforcing new rules, most of which appear to make no sense. Sometimes I feel pushed and pressured from every direction. But as a Christian I know there is one thing that I can do to help me overcome all the negativity. I can put my trust in the Lord, and so can you.
Therefore I often tell new Christians to make sure they mark the following passage in their Bibles so it could be readily found. It is Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and God shall direct your paths."
So no matter what each of us may be facing, keep trusting in the Lord. Yes, disappointments and difficulties may come your way, but trust in the Lord. Maybe you're facing a major crisis right now like a loved one is dying? Maybe you've just received word that your appeal has been denied by the court? Or you're getting hassled by the guards or by other inmates? Whatever the situation is, continue to trust in the Lord, and never stop praying.
Brethren, throughout my thirty-three years of confinement I've had to deal with things like guilt and depression. I've experienced sadness because I miss my family, and I've had my struggles with sin. Then there were many times when I felt like giving up. But when I was at my lowest, it came to my mind to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart..."
So let me encourage you to have faith in God. Never allow your faith to be lost no matter how hard life may get. And there will be times when things get rough and you experience anguish in your heart. Feelings like this come to me, too. But keep on believing in God. Trust Jesus in your trials and storms even when these things don't seem to make any sense.
Believe me, you will never regret keeping your faith in Jesus. Such a faith has big rewards. And as you stay faithful you will get stronger spiritually, and in time God will use you in ways you have never thought possible.
I must end this message now. I love you and I wish I could give each of you a big brotherly hug. Be strong in the Lord, and please do not give up on God. Hold on for one more day.
Your brother in Christ,
David Berkowitz
-August 2010
Therefore, with this praise report in mind, here is the message that I shared with those at the Bellamy Creek facility, with some minor modifications to make it suitable for anyone who's reading this journal. In addition, feel free to copy and paste the message and pass it on if you think it would encourage someone else.
NEVER STOP TRUSTING IN GOD
- A Message for those at Bellamy Creek Correctional Center in Michigan -
Hello everyone! My name is David Berkowitz, and I'd like to greet all those who are attending the Celebration Fellowship event. I am grateful to Reverend DeYoung, and to Chaplains Rich Rienstra and Dan Thompson for the opportunity to share what I hope will be a message of encouragement. And of course I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has made this possible.
Several Sundays ago I was speaking in my church which is behind the walls of New York State's Sullivan Correctional Facility. I asked each man to take a moment to reflect on where he would most likely be right now if not for the Lord's mercy, and for His divine intervention in our lives. I told them that I shudder to think what could have happened to me if the Lord Jesus did not reach out to me when He did. I'd have surely been dead, I said. More than likely, I'd have committed suicide much earlier in my sentence because I felt that my life was worthless and that I had no hope. I said that I was filled with guilt, too, and it was eating me alive. But then a fellow prisoner appeared, and he began to share the gospel with me. He told me that Jesus Christ loved me very much and wanted to forgive me.
Fortunately, through a fellow prisoner's patient efforts, I eventually asked God to forgive all my sins, and I put my faith in Jesus Christ. This was twenty-three years ago, and ten years into my sentence. I also know that prison is a place none of us want to be in. We know that it's a place of pain, frustration and despair.
Even in seemingly little ways, doing time can be demeaning and confusing. Where I am, for example, it seems as if the staff is always inventing and enforcing new rules, most of which appear to make no sense. Sometimes I feel pushed and pressured from every direction. But as a Christian I know there is one thing that I can do to help me overcome all the negativity. I can put my trust in the Lord, and so can you.
Therefore I often tell new Christians to make sure they mark the following passage in their Bibles so it could be readily found. It is Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and God shall direct your paths."
So no matter what each of us may be facing, keep trusting in the Lord. Yes, disappointments and difficulties may come your way, but trust in the Lord. Maybe you're facing a major crisis right now like a loved one is dying? Maybe you've just received word that your appeal has been denied by the court? Or you're getting hassled by the guards or by other inmates? Whatever the situation is, continue to trust in the Lord, and never stop praying.
Brethren, throughout my thirty-three years of confinement I've had to deal with things like guilt and depression. I've experienced sadness because I miss my family, and I've had my struggles with sin. Then there were many times when I felt like giving up. But when I was at my lowest, it came to my mind to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart..."
So let me encourage you to have faith in God. Never allow your faith to be lost no matter how hard life may get. And there will be times when things get rough and you experience anguish in your heart. Feelings like this come to me, too. But keep on believing in God. Trust Jesus in your trials and storms even when these things don't seem to make any sense.
Believe me, you will never regret keeping your faith in Jesus. Such a faith has big rewards. And as you stay faithful you will get stronger spiritually, and in time God will use you in ways you have never thought possible.
I must end this message now. I love you and I wish I could give each of you a big brotherly hug. Be strong in the Lord, and please do not give up on God. Hold on for one more day.
Your brother in Christ,
David Berkowitz
-August 2010
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