Volume 1 , Issue 3 JULY 28, 2010 T HE GIFT OF S ALVATION C AN YOU HEAR HIM? Acknowledge to he prison doors “No one loves you part of me, yourself and to slammed behind anymore!” something God that you have me. Tears began to T “Your friends have grow inside sinned (Romans streaked down my face. gone and forsaken of me— 3:23). In that moment, my mind flooded with nu- you!” something In sorrow for your merous thoughts and “Do you really think It was called HOPE—not sins, turn from images, which soon people can love you an earthly hope that them to God and turned into feelings of after all you have dwelt on my circum- hopelessness and de- ask His forgive- done?” stances, but an eternal ness (Isaiah spair. Loneliness had hope that took me be- 55:7). her arms wrapped Day after day, these yond my circumstances, around me, squeezing “friends” continually the kind of hope that By faith receive me tightly. It was then invaded my mind. Cut- enables me to look with called according to his the Lord Jesus that something began ting through the bar- faithful eyes, believing purpose” (Romans Christ as your to stir within me. A still, rage of negativity and what cannot be seen is 8:28). God has a pur- Savior, believing small voice, distant yet clouds of depression, what will be, or already pose for all of us. I that He died in familiar, said, “I will there echoed the silent is. That still, small voice believe my purpose is your place on the never leave you, nor whisper, “I will never gave me the power to to be a writer for Him cross (John 3:16). forsake you.” The voice leave you, nor forsake scream from the moun- and spread His mes- repeated this message you.” taintops of the world, over and over. “He will never leave me, sage of hope to a world B ETWEEN As I read my Bible, nor forsake me!” where “hope” seems to T IMES However, the TV cov- the still, small voice be a foreign word. I erage, the newspaper grew louder and invisible and intangible. believe that if God can reports, and the people clearer. The truths of It became clear to me bless me behind bars, ‘HEARING GOD’ they quoted, all claimed that Jesus walks with no situation is too com- B IBLE STUDY God began to unfold I was the “devil” and right before my eyes, me, and even goes plex for Him to fix or were glad I would die before me. Never would too dark for Him to GOD’S VOICE—1 and I realized all those Revelation 1:10-15 behind bars. In that voices were Satan’s lies. I have to fear anything, shine His light of hope. moment, I became a As I gained new insight or anyone blocking my You must welcome GOD’S VOICE—2 “nobody”—someone to into the mind of Christ, path. Now repentant, I Him into your life and 1 Kings 19:1-14 be forgotten and for- a new freedom was realized Christ never ever let Him go. Deny saken. Then again, that revealed to me—the intended for me to live GOD’S VOICE—3 yourself, open your voice inside me kept freedom that is in Christ with the pain of guilt, John 10:1-16 heart, and you will find saying, “I will never Jesus. shame, fear or worry. leave you, nor forsake He desires for me to God. He’s always there GOD’S VOICE—4 when the world is Matthew 17:1-8 you.” “Then Jesus said to nail those feelings to the Jews who had be- His cross, like He did against you and all your At my lowest point, friends abandon you. GOD’S VOICE—5 lieved in Him, ‘If you with all my sins. For it is Luke 9:20-27 my only friends were continue in my word, only in Christ that free- Listen closely, and you shame, guilt, and mis- you are truly my disci- dom—true freedom— will hear Jesus saying, MY HEARING—1 ery. I knew they were ples; and you will know can become a reality. “I will never leave you, Ezekiel 33:30-33 not good for me, but I the truth, and the truth No matter where I am, nor forsake you.” Can could not seem to will make you free’” or what my circum- you hear Him? MY HEARING—2 shake them. They tor- Matthew 7:24-27 (John 8:31, 32 NRSV). stances are, “…All mented me day and things work together for --Dan Towery, Inmate Whiteville, TN MY HEARING—3 night, screaming, “Look Once the truth of good to them that love Luke 8:11-15 what you have done!” Christ’s words became a God, to them who are MY HEARING—4 James 1:22-25 PASTOR’S DEVOTION MY HEARING—5 Revelation 22:17-21 It came through a spiritual gift granted a member of spoke to my spirit. I thought my devotions were going our congregation: “Know Me, know Me, know Me was well, as far as choosing to have them, but it is so much His plea to Pastor John.” Why does it seem that my more than that. Once devotions were chosen out of the W HY & HOW first thought is one of reproof rather than encourage- many other things that could be done, and the disci- ment? Why do I feel like there is always something pline established, what then did I choose as best within THE RED THREAD exists to be an encouragement more I can be doing rather than truly enjoy the rest that discipline? Had it degenerated into Martha’s prac- to the men and women He has given me? To his beloved Philippians Paul tice of being “cumbered about” by being distracted in currently separated from writes, “That I may know him…” (3:10) and yet that my devotional ser- family and friends in was some twenty years1 after seeing things that eyes vice? Had I had be- correctional institutions. hath not seen, and hearing words that ears cannot come over-occupied It is published on 2nd receive. What more could Paul do? And if Paul needed with the work of my and 4th Wednesdays by Crimson House Minis- to “do more” just where does that leave me? devotion by being tries at 1616 North Choosing versus Doing Again and again I must be more active in cover- Robberson, Spring- reminded that it’s not a matter of doing but of choos- ing all the prayer field, Missouri, ing, as Jesus instructed Martha and illustrated in her bases and Bible read- 65803. Please send all sister, “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will ing, rather than con- correspondence to that address. Subscription not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42). Chosen templative in the rest information is available means to pick out; choose; to pick or choose out for by being with Him in online at: http://reading one’s self; choosing one out of many, as the Lord did that devotion? room.crimsonhouseminis is selecting His apostles. In context this choice was (Continued on page 2) tries.org/ not in the general sense of choosing good in opposite 1 Philippians was written in 63 AD; 2 Corinthians was penned in of bad; rather, it was choosing the better. 57 AD where Paul speaks of an encounter with the third heaven It was ‘choosing one that is best out of many’ that fourteen years before (12:4). L ET’ S HEAR FROM YOU... 1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school. THE QUIZ THAT MATTERS 2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult You don’t actually have to take the quiz. Just read it straight through, time. and you’ll get the point that it wants to make. 3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. 4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated 1. Name the five wealthiest peo- and special. ple in the world. 5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. 2. Name the last five Heisman 6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you. trophy winners. 3. Name the last five winners of Easier? The lesson: the people who make a difference in your life the Miss America contest. are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or 4. Name ten people who have the most awards. They are the ones that care. won the Novel or Pulitzer prizes. Let us also be reminded of the One who was with us from the 5. Name the last half-dozen very beginning, who will never leave or forsake us (John 14:18; Academy Award winners for Hebrews 13:5); the One who, regardless of what we are or best actor or actress. might have done, loves us (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:7-11); the One 6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners. that always wants our company even when others might not (Matthew 11:28); the One who looks at our heart when others How did you do? The point is, none of us remember the headliners of don’t (1 Samuel 16:7; Luke 24:38); the One who will love us yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in forever (Romans 8:35-39).