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March 5, 2010

TRANSFORMED BY GOD'S BREATH

It has been sometime since I last updated this blog. No excuses! Of course I made a ton of them, one being, "Nobody looks at it anyway." Well not only was that false, but God said to me, "So what. Jesus would have gone to the cross if only for the thief next to him." So if you are that one person who reads this blog regularly, who prays for the men and women at Cook County Jail, then this is for you!

Things aren't what they use to be at CCJ. Six years ago, when I began going to the jail, they brought 70 men to our services. Just a little while back they were bringing us 30-35, now they are bringing down about 15. I'm not stating this as a complaint; I'm simply stating a fact. Even the jail goes through transformations.

We've all heard the saying, "Nothing is certain except change." I believe this to be true, and I believe that God is changing lives at CCJ through the power of His Word, His people and His divine presence. So in this blog I want to share with you just a little of how we've witnessed that tonight and through the years.

With just a small group present, and no song leader, Jack was forced to take the lead on his favorite song, "I love to praise Him." Though not quite the leader that some of the guys are, the Holy Spirit heard our joyful noise (I stress noise.) and showed up. A few pauses and a few songs later, we moved on to the most important part of the evening… Testimonies.

It began with one of the Brothers praising God for a blessed week. He was able to move from a different deck to the deck he is now on which enables him to attend services. In addition to that, through the wife of one of the men on his new deck, he was able to get a message to a very ill family member. He ended his testimony stating, "God has been truly good to me." He was being transformed!

Brother Henry followed up with a brief message of encouragement. He stated that though their situations seemed dim, and though they have know knowledge of what the future holds for them regarding their cases, God was with them and able to bless them abundantly right where they are. He was feeling the breath of God and responding by encouraging others. He told them that if they treated their Brothers well, God would treat them well. They had to look beyond themselves, and God would bless them, just as he had been blessed while incarcerated.

Brother Juan testified as to how God had been encouraging him. He told how he'd been feeling sorry for himself and asking God why he was here when he did not do the things they say. But God had convicted him with a feeling of guilt and then gave him the verses 1 Corinthians 13:1-10. We often call these the "Love" verses. These verses spoke to him and now he is thanking God for the mercy that He has shown him, for he now sees that it is by God's grace that he is in jail. He is being transformed!

My favorite moment of the night came next. But first you need a little background. A young man came into the service room early and alone. We'd never seen him before. We asked him his name and spoke to him briefly pointing out the prayer cards and blog prayer sheet and giving him a bible. We were waiting for the rest of the men to arrive. He told me that he was from tier C1. We normally do not get men from that tier. He explained that he was having a bad day and that he had asked to speak with someone. They had wanted to take him for a phyc evaluation, but he refused, so they offered him an opportunity to go to church. He said, "OK."

They brought down some men from one of the other tiers. But we were still waiting for another group. This young man was growing impatient and having second thoughts. He came up to me and said, "I'm going to go back upstairs, but thanks for the Bible. I think it is what I really needed." Of course I tried to encourage him to stay, but he walked toward the exit, just as the other group arrived. Norm opened us in prayer. I prayed, that this young man would return to the service.

I don't know if it was my prayer, or simply that the guards refused to allow him to go back to his tier. But when I opened my eyes, he was sitting in the back of the room. Praise God! This young man, Brother Jaruard, bravely stood up and said that he was here to ask for advice. He was young and he'd made mistakes, but he was trying to keep it light. He liked to laugh and joke and look out for other Brothers on his tier. But when he was having a bad day, when he was in a mood, he had nobody to turn to to make him feel better.

Jack had a group of men immediately come forward, lay hands on Brother Gerard and pray for him. "You are not alone," Jack assured him. If that is not an example of God at work in CCJ, then I don't know what is.

The night could have ended here, but it didn't. Don jumped in and spoke about just two simple lines in the Bible, Mark 1:40-41. A man with leprosy came to him (Jesus) and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

Don addressed us that for the sake of argument we would assume that this man had only recently become diseased, because he already knew who Jesus was. Consider that this man had already seen Jesus, that he'd heard him speak, perhaps when he'd fed the 5,000 on the mountainside, or perhaps he'd witnessed Jesus heal many people and drive out demons at the home of Simon and Andrew. Wherever it was, it seemed clear that this man was already aware of who Jesus was and what he could do. Without a doubt he believed that Jesus was the Messiah and that if it were God's will, he could heal him.

This man who had been cast out of society, who was now considered the lowest of the low, came crawling to Jesus on his knees, humbly asking that God's will be done. He came with no presumptions, no demands. He knew he had nothing to offer in return. Is this the way that you come before God? When you come to God in prayer, do you come asking for His will or your own?

Don talked a little about the benefits of praying on your knees. For one, it helps you to focus more. How often have you laid down and gotten comfortable and then begun to pray only to have your mind wonder away from God, or if you are like me, to simply fall asleep. Don pointed out, sometimes we need to be a little uncomfortable to stay focused. He also pointed out that being on our knees is a position of submission. We need to be submissive when we go before God. Like this man with leprosy, we need to go before God recognizing that He is the one, the only one who can make us clean. We need to beg his forgiveness, and ask that His will be done. Only then can God do a work in us. A transfiguration!

Jack has had the privilege of keeping up with several of the men who have attended our services in the past. Tonight he shared some of his thoughts about that. He said that there were two main reasons why he continued to come down to the jail on Friday nights. The first was so that the men at CCJ would know that they are remembered. As believers we are all part of the body of Christ, that makes us all Brothers and Sisters, therefore we are to encourage one another.

The second reason Jack comes to the jail is to be encouraged. At the end of a long week he needs to be lifted up just as they do. He needs to be in the house of the Lord and to hear testimonies that encourage him. Having said that, Jack went on to list some of the things he has learned from the Brothers at CCJ.

1) Trust In God Regardless of Circumstances:
Brother Brady "I'm learning to worship the giver, not the gift."
Brother Antione who was facing a 42-year sentence "God's not done with me. He's going to use me wherever I am." He is now leading bible studies in prison.

Jack said, "If they can have faith like that, so should I."

2) Be Thankful for God's Discipline:
Proverbs 3:11 & 12, My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves…
He recalled one of the first Brothers he ever met at Cook County. He was a Vietnamese man who had come to America and had gotten himself mixed up with some bad stuff. He ended up at CCJ, but he told Jack that he was so thankful for that. It was in Jail that this man had come to know Jesus Christ and when he was released from prison he planned on going back to Vietnam to tell others about Jesus.
He met Brother Carl one Friday night. Carl was completely empty when they met. He was so broken from his addictions, from the hurt he had caused. He'd lost everything. He literally broke down and cried on Jacks shoulder. But Jack got to watch as God was disciplining Carl and he began to see the evidence of God filling that empty hole inside Carl with the Holy Spirit.

3) Learning to Use Spiritual Gifts:
Jack has witnessed men learning what their Spiritual Gifts are and putting them to use, even from behind bars. One man was answering letters he'd received from people on the outside, encouraging them. Here he was stuck in jail and he was the one giving encouragement. Why? He had the gift of encouragement.

4) God Transforms Lives:
One night during a Bible study group at CCJ, one of the men asked, "Why doesn't God do any big miracles anymore like parting the Red Sea?"
Jack exclaimed, "Are you kidding me? God is transforming lives. I'd rather see one of you transformed, than see the Red Sea parted any day!"

Jack read part of a letter from Brother Keith, who was still incarcerated, and he'd been corresponding with for some time. He wrote that God had saved him over and over again. God finally resorted to putting him in jail on the Christian deck. There he'd come to know the Lord who gave him power and understanding. Now he praised God. His heart was filled with Glory for God.

To close, Jack stated, "You have an impact on me, and on each other. Iron sharpens iron. So thank you for encouraging me and continue to encourage one another."

It was my turn to share following Jack. I began by having everyone close their eyes and imagine that God was standing next to them. To imagine God whispering in their ear, standing so close that they could feel His breath on their neck.

Following this little exercise I explained how the word Spirit sometimes was translated as breath. We often state that the Bible was God Breathed. The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, can be translated as the breath of God is upon me, urging me and enabling me to act and accomplish His purpose.

Then I shared Isaiah 61, pausing from time to time to explain how this passage spoke not only to the restoration of Israel as God's chosen people, but us today as the Children of God restored though the blood of Christ. Jesus himself quoted from these verses in Luke 4:17. I encourage you to go ahead and read this chapter for yourself. It is both beautiful and encouraging as God begins to reveal how he will transform lives. I finished my testimony with the song Breathe On Me by Jennifer Knapp.

Norm closed the evening with a portion of his testimony, which you can read below. He also spoke about how one man; Adam brought sin into the world and how we are unable to handle the knowledge of good and evil. But the good news is that God loved us so much, and being a perfectly, just God, he sent his son, Jesus Christ to live as an example to us, and to be a sacrifice, to cover the cost of our iniquities. One man brought sin into the world, and one man came to take it away!

This week my prayer for you is that you would see the evidence of God transforming lives, in Cook County Jail, in your home, where you work, in your church and especially in you. It is a process that never ends until we go to meet Jesus face-to-face. May your life continue to be transformed so that you become more and more like Christ. Amen!



Your Sister in Christ,
Wendy


I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)


Song Link of the Week: Jennifer Knapp – A Little More

Prayer

As often as possible we invite you to visit this blog spot and pray for the men incarcerated at Cook County Jail in Chicago. We also ask that you pray for the staff that makes it possible for us to minister in CCJ and for the volunteers who bring the hope that is the light of Jesus. Pray that the staff at CCJ would continue to bless us. They continue to allow us extra time for our service. Pray that they would be stirred to bring a greater number of men to our services. Pray for the continued health and well being of all of the inmates and staff in Cook County Jail, especially during cold and flu season. Pray that God would keep peace throughout the jail, and that His love would draw more men into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for the families of the detainees, as they are forced to do life without a loved one. Pray that their financial needs would be met, and that they would also be encouraged by the promises of our Lord and Savior. Pray that if necessary, they would find forgiveness in their hearts and that they would continue to have contact with their incarcerated relative. Pray for the men who have gone home and for the men who have gone on to other prisons to serve their sentences. Please Pray for the following men and their specific needs:

• Jaruard F. Please pray that my life and environment would become more positive. Pray for my health and for my freedom.
• Antione Y. I have a court date on March 16. Please pray that God would be there with me.
• Barron L. Please pray for my family and all of the people in need of prayer. Pray for my court date and me. Thank you.
• Jose A. Please pray for my family. Pray for my wife and kids, my step kids, and my upcoming court date.
• Andres S. Please pray for my family, my adversaries, and for everyone around the world.
• Richard Pray for my loved ones, for their health and well-being, and pray for my court case.
• Henry L. Pray that the truth regarding the crimes that I am accused of would come out. Praise God that though I am innocent, he has freed me from situations I was having in the free world. God works mysteriously.
• Juan G. Pray for our families to love one another. Help me to thank God and to not be so selfish, and to not have any doubt regarding God's Word and what His will is for me. Amen.
• Daniel Please pray for the well-being of my family and friends, and for God's continued blessings throughout my trials.
• Cedrick Pray for my family's well-being and for my court appearance on March 17.
• Johnny Pray for my family.
• Marshall Pray that he would have peace and patience as he waits on a judges decision on whether or not to set him free.

Pray for the volunteers of this ministry. Pray that we would continue to have the time and desire to minister at Cook County Jail, and pray that more volunteers would come forward to be a part of this ministry so that we are able to expand and fulfill all God desires of this ministry.

Pray that I would be more vigilant in keeping this blog updated… especially the prayer requests, and pray that many people would commit to visiting this blog and praying for these men regularly. AMEN! So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5 (NIV)