A Pilgrim prisoners journal:
Hi everyone,
I pray that God blesses you all and that you seek His face no matter what is going on in your life.
Here are a few things that have been happening in the past month or so. God is always working, but are you gonna join in His work? Or stand back and just watch? I choose to join in His work.
1. About a few months ago a new kid showed up in our unit. His name is Roberto. He showed that he was very interested in serving the LORD. He has been saved years before he was locked up, but seemed to stay away from doing what God wanted of his life. So I got to know him and he suggested that we do a Bible study. I told him that I do a Bible study every night with my celly, Ryan(who is growing in the spirit every day). But I told Roberto, I used to have a Bible Study of like 5 guys, but most of them left and no one has showed interest until you now. So lets do it on Tuesday at 8 pm, start there and see where it goes. Then he invited some of his friends. Some come once and dont come back, others stay and come here and there. But we are doing it. On average we have 4-5 guys attend. When we began, I was in a cell that was of regular size and we would cram in there. Then soon there after as more would want to come, God worked it out that I and my celly got the bigger cell. That happened without me doing anything for it to happen, so more room for more to attend, and it is happening. We have had a few more show up since then. So like 6-7 guys now. My goal is to show them to not be religious, but to walk with Jesus. Live your whole life for Him. Going to church or Bible studies does not mean you are living for God. Many people try to justify that they live for God because they go to church, etc. Yes, it is good to. But we learn more how to walk as Jesus did by including Him in every aspect of our lives. So go, walk with Jesus. Praise the LORD for His goodness. He is present in all of our lives, so make it worth it.
2. The following short story is what I call a “God wink”.
About 3-4 weeks ago I was visiting a few guys I spend time with. Bossman and Michael. It was in the morning and when I went in we struck a conversation on having children. And I said at one point that a man with his quiver full is blessed. And then I asked Bossman,”Do you even know what that means’? He said, of course I do and said what it is. Where one holds his arrows in. Ok, Bossman, you know your stuff then.
That afternoon as I was sitting listening to music and reflecting on things. Roberto came up to me and was to give me a Bible verse. (There is a brother in church named Pablo/Paul that prints out random verses in Spanish and English and passes them out all the time) So Roberto asks, do you want it in Spanish or English? Usually I would say Spanish to him, but seeing that it was Tuesday and at night we were going to have a Spanish Bible study, I decided to get a verse in English. Mind you Roberto doesnt know nothing of what happened in the morning about the word Quiver. And out of the 100’s of different verses passed out, what happens next is not a coincidence. So when Roberto hands me the verse, it is the following:
Read Psalm 127:3-5 and you will understand. No coincidence here.
Then later on that night I told and showed Bossman. He is almost always joking with me as if I think I am a prophet.(Which I dont see myself as by the way, I just try to speak what the Bible says and what I believe the Holy Spirit is showing me. If that is a prophet, then so be it. I know myself to be a son of God and a servant of the LORD. Where ever and however He has me do His work.) So Bossman didnt believe me at first. He said you had that. Just by him saying that, he realized it was no coincidence. Whether he wanted to believe it or not. I asked him what are the mathematical probabilities of that happening like that? That cant even be figured out, it can only be believed.
3. About a month ago, one of the leader/elder brothers in the church shared with the rest of us how that in the suffering of our lives, God is working. Dont be discouraged, God allows this to happen to us for a reason. And he went on to show in the Bible examples and passages showing this to be true. It truly resonates with me, as I am living this suffering for righteousness sake day after day. It is encouraging that I see others not only seeing this in their lives, but also accepting it. That is where true transformation happens, when we begin to accept God’s will for our lives. No matter what it might be or bring to our lives. Thats true faith, that is trusting God in the good and in the “bad”. When he finished, anyone who wanted to share something about that could. Another brother, who I love very much and he loves his brethren, began to share his opinion. He began to say that yes, suffering can happen in our Christian lives, but if we exercise the power of God. We will be able to rid the suffering of our lives. We have to use the authority and power of God and not just accept the situation.
We can overcome the suffering that the devil puts on us. He made it sound as if all suffering is because we are doing something wrong, or need to get closer to God. As if something is always wrong with us if we are suffering. He said that Jesus and Paul were called to suffer, but that isnt for us. So I let him finish and then I said what about the thorn in Paul? That suffering he had to endure. That thorn that God wouldnt remove. Where God’s grace was sufficient for him. And my brother said that Paul could have exercised the power and authority of God and rid of the thorn. I and another brother said, wait a minute. Did you not read the context in that passage? God was not going to rid Paul of that thorn and gave him a reason why. I said brother, you sound like you are preaching the doctrine of prosperity. He said no I am not. I said, the “gospel of prosperity” isnt only about money and things. It is a New Age doctrine basically saying that all should be good once you come to Jesus as your LORD and Saviour. And I asked him, why does the world see suffering as if something you are doing must be wrong? Does the Bible, doesnt God show us that He works through suffering?
The greatest gift we can receive is salvation through our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ. Did not He suffer for all people? Did not Paul for others also? How about all the Christians through out history who have died and suffered to save those lost souls? That message doesnt fit for those who in other countries are getting slaughtered for their faith. What can be said to them? That they didnt have authority and power to save their own lives and that of their children who are slaughtered in front of their faces? No, no, no. That doctrine is against the Word of God and only fits in a lukewarm society, not in the real world. These type of doctrines get people off the true path of what we are supposed to be doing.
Read the following passages; Romans 8:31-39. We are to go through so much but nothing can separate us from the Love of God. The Bible is full of men and women suffering for the LORD. And we are told we will by the way.
Dont get me wrong here, I believe in the power of God. Read Romans 1:16 and 1 Corinthians 1:18. The Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. True power people. Eternal life!!!
4. Another thing happened that I could call a wink of God. I see these “winks” every so often and even in the little and mundane things of our days. We tend to think that it doesn’t mean anything or much at all. But if we pay close attention we will see that the LORD is teaching us to walk by the Spirit. To hear that still small voice and react to it at just the right time and in the right way. If we cant do the little things, how are we to do the bigger things the Holy Spirit wants of us?
Two weeks ago I was at commissary and when it came time to go and get my things, I was sold 3 bags of coffee instead of the 2 I had put down. I could have returned it and not spent the extra $6 USD. But I believe that things happen for a reason, so I took it and asked God-” To whom shall I give this to?” I thought of a new guy in our unit, but thought, Ill wait and see. So as I walk out of commissary to head back to the unit. Ariel is walking out of Unicor where he works. (This is the same Ariel that dedicated his life to the LORD almost 2 years ago and prayed with me at the front of the church. He now preaches, plays the drums in church, well does whatever he is called to.) But what was odd is that he was walking out of Unicor at 8 am, when they just started at 7:30 am. This is not normal. I said-“Ariel, what are you doing out of work at this time?” He said-“I just finished a project and felt that I didnt want to start another”. So they just let you out I asked.
Yep, said Ariel. At that moment I heard this still small voice say-“Ask him if he wants coffee”.
Hey Ariel, Do you want a bag of coffee? Seeing you are Dominican and all. (We Dominicans love our coffee). He then turned to me and his eyes began to water and asked me,-“Why did you ask me that, who told you to offer me coffee?” I looked at him and said-“what do you mean? Ariel then said-” You couldnt have known” Know what?I asked.
Ariel then told me. ” That my celly and I just finished our last scoops of coffee this morning and to myself I said, “Well God. You know how coffee is special to me here and I dont know how I can get anymore. Ill just have to wait and see.” And then you come and give me a bag of coffee? I could tell that he was moved, in such a thing that most people wouldnt even pay attention to. But of course I understood, Remember my Hot Chocolate story? You see, I was ready and available for God’s work, no matter how small it might be. My life cannot be in the way for me to answer the call. So when God says move, on His time, not mine. Then I move. It can only happen if we dont live for ourselves, because ourselves get in the way.
After lunch I walked back and Ariel walked with me and kept asking. Jonathan, Why did you do that? You dont have much and you are in here just like me. Why did you do that? I said brother, this is who I am. I am a servant of the LORD. All my life has been in service of the LORD. Sometimes more than other times, but all my life I have served the LORD. It is what I know, it is what I do. Heck, I am in prison because of it. And why do I give of the little I might have? Because of faith my brother. As the old widow gave 2 mites, all she had. I give my life and what I have to the service of the LORD. For all things are of Him and for Him. Its because of faith in the LORD that I give.
And I think now, what the Bible says:”The just shall live by faith.” Know this brothers and sisters, that coffee bag that was given to Ariel. Was from God, through you, to me and to Ariel and who ever he shares with. If so much was done and is done just for a coffee bag to get to Ariel. How much more is being done for you or any of us for that matter to reach a soul for Christ? Do you want the power of God in your life? Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ…
5. I was walking in the Rec. yard the other day and I have noticed a guy who runs hard and long. So I felt compelled to stop him and say hi. I did and said, you are really good at running. Then left it at that. Days later I had to translate in orientation and missed commissary. So was told I would go the next day, which doesnt always happen. But was suddenly called at 12 pm to go to commissary. I thought, thanks God. While there, I shopped first but couldnt get out the door to get back right away. But I see this “running man” and went and sat next to him. His name is Williams. And we got talking. I cant convey how precious a conversation we had. I came to find out that he is a genuine believer in Jesus Christ as his LORD and Saviour. It started by me asking if he believes is God. And he said, yes, but I am not religious. Its about a relationship with God through Jesus Christ our LORD. Your right I said. And we then shared so much of our lives and what the LROD is doing in them. Another movement of the Holy Spirit to encourage 2 prisoners of the LORD.
6. This next story brings sadness, yet joy to my heart. Which only a believer can experience in a situation such as the following. One of the first men to receive the LORD Jesus Christ as his LORD and Saviour when we arrived in the Dominican Rep. Was Carlos. He ended up being trained up in the Word by dad and became a pastor in the churches that surrounded that part of the island. I recall going to the mountains and plains with him evangelizing. He was the uncle of my wife and a big reason how I met her. He is with the LORD now. Psalm 116:15.
I love you Carlos
David
A Pilgrim prisoner of the LORD
Leave a Reply