Set Free  Issue No.25         by Martin Tuson



My Testimony
by Adrain Hayes

Many of you will know me personally and others will have heard of me through the newspapers and media. It is a privilege for me to be able to share with you from my prison cell what the Lord has done for me, and it is Him I want to honour and glorify above all else.

I was born in Ballymena on 3rd October 1973; I am one of six children, and the youngest of five boys. I was bullied in school; this had a major impact on my life. I began to mitch school and generally wrestled and rebelled against every kind of authority. I started to stick up for myself and got into many fights and became known as a hard man. I got in with the wrong crowd and started smoking cannabis.

My family couldn't have been any better; my mother and father loved us equally. They are two of the hardest working people I know. They often worried about me and when I didn't arrive home they would come looking for me. I started going to the Adair Arms in Ballymena, having a few drinks and getting into fights, and staggered home battered and bruised. On leaving school I started to steal and break into places. Not surprisingly I ended up in court at eighteen, a scared wee boy. I was given a custodial sentence, a three year training-school order at Rathgael, but I was only there for one week as I appealed it and got bail. On my appeal I was sentenced to a 31-day course which included outdoor pursuits, canoeing, climbing and counselling classes with social workers and probation staff. This turned out to be a very positive experience for me.

I then went to work in the Y.M.C.A. Grennwell, County Down for a year and met new people from all over the world. We would go down to the pub every night and have a few drinks. I met a fellow called Paul; we started talking and then the subject of cannabis came up, so we started smoking cannabis and rebelled against everything that the Y.M.C.A. stood for. We saw a market for drugs so we started dealing cannabis but it was not too long before a few lads who were not happy about us muscling in on their turf, set us up. One night we were sleeping when six masked men came to our chalet and smashed in the door and beat the daylights out of us; they had two guns and pickaxe handles with them. They poured lighter fuel over my head and threatened to set me alight. We ended up in hospital half-conscious and we later got the sack from the Y.M.C.A. I arrived home in Ballymena with my arm in a sling and the scars I had received in County Down. I thought a lot about God and the Y.M.C.A.

There was a fellow called Dave Moran, who was a Christian. He was from Cork and I got on really well with him. He tried to help me. I promised to change my ways and go to church when I healed up. I had post traumatic stress disorder, so to help me cope with this I got on to harder drugs. There were not too many dealing in harder drugs in those days - people drank more alcohol than smoked cannabis - but I was on them for more than two years; they made me feel very paranoid. I was addicted and I made a name for myself always chasing the buzz, always looking for something better.

In 1992 Probation contacted me to see if I would be interested in going to Holland on an outdoor pursuits instructors course. It involved going to the Mournes, mountain climbing, mountain biking etc. We climbed Slieve Donard and Slieve Binnian. We then set off for Holland, then known as Europe's drug capital. When I arrived, folks took to me right away. Straight away I asked them to get me some cannabis. I gave them the money and they were able to get me it just round the corner. I was smoking cannabis and that was the start of the cannabis trail for Adrian Hayes. It was a year of many highs and lows.

When I came back from Holland I had a gothic look with shaved head and a ponytail; I wore black combats, Doctor Martin Boots etc. I carried on with the drug habit — speed, cannabis and E's. I continued to get deeper and deeper into drugs and even introduced Andrew my brother and other people in Broughshane to drugs. I was now a dealer. I sat up at night and smoked cannabis and slept most of the day. I would even tell people that the Lord put cannabis on the Earth to be used and that it was a good remedy for all kinds of problems and that it would help them. I didn't mention the fact that it heightens your anxieties, gives you cold sweats and makes you paranoid and angry.

I would like to share the latter part of my life with you now. My brother John died on New Year's day 1999. This had a profound effect on my family and on me; needless to say, we were all devastated. I blamed the Lord for taking John and not me, so I pressed the self-destruct button. My sister Liz saw what I was doing to my life and I believe she was afraid for me. People were getting hurt all round me and I didn't care, I crashed my car a few times through drinking and driving.

In May 1999 I went to stay with my brother in County Tyrone. This was where I met Fiona who later became my wife. Fiona had gone on a holiday and when she returned we started going out with one another. We married on the 27th April 2000 and a few days later we found out that Fiona was pregnant. I was overjoyed to say the least; I now had a new hope and saw a future, I had a wife and family and I sensed a new beginning.

Things didn't work out that way though. I had a breakdown and shut myself off from everyone; I started drinking heavily and sold off our belongings in order to buy drink. Then I started to pick myself up and I got myself back into work again as an overhead linesman. I was one week into the job when Fiona contacted me and told me everything that had happened. Social services told her that if she were to come back to me that they would then take our unborn baby from us upon birth. We had to meet in secret but this put a great strain on us both as Fiona was living in Portadown and I was living in Ballymena. Being apart was very hard on us but we could not take the chance of social services taking our baby, so we kept on seeing each other in secret. We would make plans to spend the weekend together whenever we could, as we loved each other so much.

Then one night we had a big argument on the phone. I ended by getting very drunk and full of anger and frustration, and I took the life of a young girl. I will be forever sorry for this, deeply, deeply sorry and will regret it to the end of my days. Not a day goes by that I don't think about that precious life that I took, that cannot be replaced no matter what. I robbed her parents of a daughter; I robbed them of a chance of having a son-in-law and grandchildren. No words could ever even try to express to you how I feel about what I did; the utter devastation pain and sorrow that I caused to so many, not just the poor girl's family but also my own family; to them all I am TRIJLY,TRULY SORRY.

I ended up back in prison on remand and then later at my trial I was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison, with a 17-year tariff. While on remand I was frightened, scared of what was going to happen to me. I had lost everything, I had no contact from my wife; my friends had deserted me and even some of my family members. I was at an all-time low, but when you get to the end of yourself, you get to the beginning with God. I shed many tears and then I cried to the Lord. That is when I read Psalm 6, the Psalm of Mercy and Forgiveness. I surrendered my life to the Lord and made a commitment to follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fiona my wife contacted me again just before our son Christopher was born on 9th December 2000. I told her that I was now a Christian and was trusting God. I told Fiona that a lady from Prison Fellowship (Pat Thomas) was going to come and visit her. Fiona talked to Pat and she then decided to surrender her own life to Christ Jesus. Over the next year Fiona and I had many great visits. With Jesus Christ in our marriage and in our lives I really did think that we would make it. I cannot thank the Rev William Dickey enough for his love and support to Fiona and to me and my wider family circle as we truly appreciated their love and support.

Things took a real nosedive - Fiona stopped visiting and she put Christopher into care with social services. She could not cope with the enormity of what had happened within my trial and the long tariff.

I took my eyes off the cross and off Jesus and tried to take my own life - I thought I had nothing left to live for; I had lost everything. I cut my wrists and I lost between four and five pints of blood, but I am happy to say that my attempt failed. The man in the next cell heard me and got help.

Around this time I received a card from a woman called Iris Burnside. When everyone else had walked out of my life she walked in, the start of a beautiful friendship God had given me. She wrote to me and loved me with an unconditional love of Jesus Christ. She kept encouraging me to trust God and not to give up hope.

Meantime I was back on drugs and Fiona filed for a divorce that I didn't agree too, but she proceeded anyway and got it without my help. I am sorry for the hurt that I caused Fiona and pray for her and wish her nothing but the best for the future and hope she is happy in her new life.

I fully committed my life to Jesus, and that is when I started to really live my life to the full. I had a real sense of peace within my heart, mind and soul. Even though I'm in prison and have lost everything I know God will restore my life in His time; this is why I press on with Jesus in my life. Though I'm behind locks and bars I have been set free, for "whom the Son sets free is free indeed."

It does not matter what you are struggling with in your life whether it is Alcohol Addiction, Drugs, Anger Problems, Loneliness, Money Worries, Divorce, Depression or Suicide, Jesus loves you the way you are. Put your trust in Him and He will Set You Free.

If you would like to contact me by letter, my address is:
B666 Erne House, H.M.P. Maghaberry, Upper Ballinderry, Old Road, Lisburn, BT28 2PT


"Jesus Delivered Me From Gangs"

by REY DAVID VARGAS, Georgia State Penitentiary, Reidsville

I started using and selling drugs when I was 13 years old, and when necessary I was also carrying a gun. I grew up in a tough environment. If you weren't into crime in my neighbourhood, you weren't "in". I offer no excuses however. I made all the choices. I was a hope-to-die drug addict, drug dealer, liar and gang member. I was in a gang that was considered to be one of the most notorious in the history of the state of California. I could care less if tomorrow never arrived as I was growing up on drugs. I did not care. This went on for years as I was selling heroin. I would tell the junkies to rob, or steal and bring me the money. They would! I have seen a few overdose and die from what are called "hot shots", because they were late on their payments or "burned" someone. I saw the narcotic business over the years turn into all-out war.

We Were Not To Spill The Blood Of A Fellow Gang Member

During my years in the gang I saw the illegal drug business change also! At first we were just a gang ... until a constitution was drafted - that's when things began to change. Under the constitution, members all over were ordered to place all personal feelings and obligations aside until the purpose and goals of the gang were accomplished. Members were not to spill the blood of a fellow gang member. We were to carry out all orders of the appointed leaders on the power ladder of the gang as mandated by the constitution. Members were to do battle for the gang without question. Many gang members were highly respected and were given positions of power for gang "hits" they had made.

It Was A Life Where You Constantly Lived In Doubt

One of the things I remember most among the many years of gang activity is that it was a life where you constantly lived in doubt. I was in charge of a regiment and during times of full alert, armed bodyguards were assigned to me. I was a high-ranking member and a gang enforcer. Once, I recall a high-ranking member announced he had turned his life over to Christ. He was expelled from the gang and a few weeks later he was shot to death!

Automatic Death Sentence

I have seen many of my friends die from overdoses of heroin because the dope was too raw. Gang members were not allowed to use any drugs - it was an automatic death sentence. I was stunned when I learned of a situation. During an internal power struggle, a "Captain" I was close to was lured into a room by another gang member for a "hit". Two gang members were waiting for him; one grabbed him with an extension cord around his neck and another stabbed him 37 times and then cut his throat! Why? They learned he had been "chipping" heroin. I don't mean to disrespect any gang or any gang member but I, myself, would never want to lead another dangerous life of gang activity. I simply offer my testimony to warn anyone to think twice before joining a gang. And, I say there is a better way through Christ Jesus. I have seen so many lives torn apart by gangs.

Church Members Put Their Arms Around Me And Started To Pray

I went into the church and turned into a "suitcase". Church members put their arms around me and started to pray. Some of them wept as we prayed the sinner's prayer. I was just so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was at the point that I was abusing narcotics and I thought if I was going to get out of it I was going to go all the way! It seemed that up to that point all my life revolved around drugs and doing whatever it took to get them and sell them. I had come from a family of heroin dealers, so I knew the game. When I left that service I was sober and alive. During the time of my conversion to Christ I was awaiting trial on my criminal case. I could have easily fled the country, but it was members of this church, who really didn't even know me, that posted a $75,000 dollar property bond for my release. They told me if I was innocent to go to court and face my trial. I told them I would go to trial and no matter what happened I would take Christ with me ... even to prison! Amen. Since then and my coming to prison I have done much study about this Jesus. I find life is a lot deeper than most of us wish to accept. One thing is for sure: There is a God above in a place called Heaven. I won't say I understand it all, but if God created the world and everything that lives then what problem would this same God have in raising the dead? Seems clear to me.

God Has Been So Good To Me

I just give thanks and praise to the True and Living Lord Jesus that has spared me from death, hell and the grave. God has been so good to me allowing me to live this long. I was a violent person years ago. When I accepted Christ it was as if I had a new nature. Drugs change a person's nature; I witnessed junkies and prostitutes getting gunned down in the streets for not paying their drug bills to the "pusher". I had no pity for anyone, yet the Lord Jesus has shown me so much pity, I have learned it is God's agape love, real love. He has plans for all who heed His calling. I now have life eternal.

Drugs Are A Tool Of The Devil

Why I loved drugs so much is beyond me. Drugs are a tool of the devil, drugs change and destroy our human nature. I became violent. I was insane on drugs. I can say without hesitation that coming to Christ will change anyone's life. It reduces crime and changes the moral attitudes of mankind. Christ provides moral direction for people encouraging them to avoid criminal behaviour. That's the bottom line for me! To those of you who are suffering, you can pray this prayer: "Father God, I have acknowledged Your Son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Redeemer. I am a sinner and I am ready to receive the Light of Your revelation that comes from Him. Let that Light find out every part of me and remove the darkness. Let it make me pure and alive for Christ and let it shine through me to others in Jesus' Name. Amen."


TAKE HEART

If you're tempted to despair, and you think that no one cares,

There's one thing that should be clear: "I will keep My promise to you. I am here."

As these doubts and fears assail, and you think that you will fail,

Look to Jesus and you'll hear: "I'll not leave you. I am here."

"I am with you in your trials. I'll support you in your woe.

Any place that I may send you, you can trust me. I will go."

Through the valley, cross the mountains, where the surging waters flow.

I will never, never leave you but will surely always go."

"So take heart and don't be fearful, dare to love and trust in Me.

And your mission will be joyful as My Spirit sets you free!"

"So take heart and don't he fearful, dare to love and trust in Me.

And your mission will he joyful as My Spirit sets you free!"


WALTER PAUL OSWALD, JR.      Joliet Correctional Centre, Joliet, Illinois.

My name is Walter Paul Oswald Jr. I am a man of God bought by the blood of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who was slain for the sins of mankind. I am a forgiven man because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for me. I am currently in prison reaping what was sown in the flesh by the child that I used to be. In our society man is the center of the world and not God Almighty. And that thought-pattern infiltrated me when I was young. I grew up in a Christian home and loved the Lord, but I gave in to the temptations of the world. It started out with pornography (magazines and television). I was in the third grade when this entered my life and has been the hardest of all sinful temptations to break away from (but God is faithful to deliver us from all the devices of the enemy). Later on, as I was getting ready to go into High School, I got involved in drugs and alcohol and the rebellion just got steadily worse. At this point in my life, church, the Bible, and God seemed not hip or cool (i.e. boring). I got in a lot of trouble because of my involvement with drugs and alcohol - with the police, school, my parents, and God. I hurt my parents tremendously. Imagine what a parent goes through when their child turns from all that they were taught (God and right from wrong), and turns instead to a lifestyle of chains that bind and cause nothing but heartache and pain. It is amazing when we are able to see how tolerant and patient God, our Father, is with us when we've done all the foolish things that we've done. Towards the end of High School I got very interested in the occult and Satanism. Of course listening to Heavy Metal helped to cultivate an interest in occult ideals and demonic attitudes and desires. A lot of the Heavy Metal music is based on lyrics that are totally evil and dangerous to the mind. I started reading books on the subject, and pretty soon I was a practising Satanist. I had given myself over to the enemy without a fight. I was consumed by the darkness and had no control of what was to take place in my life. It was inevitable that my life was going to get worse. Eventually I came to the point of taking a person's life, Kevin Merfeld. I betrayed a friend and his family's trust. I got so depressed about my life and the inability to make something positive come of my life that I had planned on taking my own life. I wasn't thinking very rationally at all and I knew that my Dad would have a hard time dealing with me killing myself, so I ended up taking his life too. I loved him very much and wish that I could have done better in my choices in the past, but we have to live with the choices that we make, no matter how foolish. These were not rational thoughts - it was idiotic and this is what happens when God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, is not the total motivation of our lives. I failed in my attempts to take my own life and prison was to be in my future.

After coming to prison I continued on my path of ignorance of God by choosing my own path of unrighteousness and evil. About four years after coming to prison I started to realize the mistakes that I have made in rebelling against God, His Son Jesus Christ and His creation. I knew that if I continued on my own path, that Hell was my destiny. And when in the past I thought that I wanted to go to Hell, I realized how real Hell is and that it is a place of torment and not pleasure. I was awakened to the reality of my sinfulness and the need to give my life to God and accept His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. I didn't have control over my life and knew that in order to do what is right in life God had to be in control of my life, not me. After re-committing my life to God I thought that the biggest struggles of life were over - so I thought. For the first few years I struggled terribly and even gave up (but I still knew that Jesus was the only way). I had so ingrained ungodliness and sinful practices into my life that God had to use trials to break the hardness off of my heart in order to be able to use me. When God calls us it's either His way or no way.

These things that I've written about I am forgiven by the grace of God Almighty and only through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We must have faith in Christ and His atoning death, burial and resurrection. God is calling everyone to His Son Jesus Christ, to accept by faith Jesus' Death-Burial-Resurrection, to repent from our own sinful ways and to turn to God with our whole hearts. God wants all of us, not just a part of us, while we hold on to some secret sin. God knows you can't fool God. Be sure, your sins will find you out - what we sow that shall we also reap - God is not mocked. Life is the beautiful gift of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should not take for granted what God has done for us. The Bible is the [written] Word of God, and sheds Light to guide us and teach us. We should take heed of God's Word before we listen to anyone. ...God is unchangeable and won't lie. God's Word is sure and we should eat of God's Words and continue in it, not being swayed by what the world is saying. We had better listen to God rather than man. We are close to the "Day of the Lord" and we all need to repent and turn to God with a pure heart. There is another thing which I would like to share. I have a Christian brother here in prison with me who is from Yugoslavia and lived most of his life there. He is one of the most sincere and dedicated Christians that I have met and God has put it on my heart as to why we in America are so lukewarm in our Christianity. We have become undisciplined in living as Christians at all times (we've allowed sinfulness to be accepted into the church without a fight). We aren't committed to our commitment to God. We have taken for granted the Bible, our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, and all the rights that our Constitution was meant to stand for. Now that we are losing our freedoms we see the possibility (reality) of losing our Christian freedom. A time is coming when martyrdom will again be a common word among true Christians. I've seen in my Yugoslavian brother a commitment to God and a disciplined attitude to live a holy life for God that we as Americans should have. We should be setting an example to a dying world of Christ Jesus living in us and through us. If we truly believe that Jesus Christ is coming soon, we should be doing everything possible for God. Let that Light shine!


JUDGE GENTLY

Pray, don't find fault with the man that limps or stumbles along the road.
Unless you have worn the shoes he wears or struggled beneath his load.

There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt though hidden away from view.
Or the burden he bears placed on your back might cause you to stumble too.

Don't sneer at the man who's down today unless you have felt the blow
That ca used his fall or felt the shame that only the fallen know.

You may be strong but still the blows that was his if dealt to you
In the selfsame way, at the selfsame time might cause you to stagger too.

Don't be too harsh with the man that sins or pelt him with word or stone
Unless you are sure - yea, doubly sure that you have no sins of your own.

For you know, perhaps, if the tempter's voice should whisper as soft to you
As it did to him when he went astray it might cause you to falter too..


JULIE ELIZABETH PARSONS  -  Broward Correctional Institution, Pembroke Pines, FL

I was raised in a lower class environment as a child and given the standard education in Christianity. Even though I understood on an intellectual level, I never truly understood or felt in my heart a true relationship with God. At a very early age I was introduced to the gangster mentality, and so began my personal little crime spree. It lasted almost 20 years. During those years I was involved with everything from prostitution to extortion, from armed bank robbery to international smuggling. It was all quite grand and glamorous - the Devil's work always is in the beginning. It never can last, because Satan is ugly as is all he puts his hand to, and I had become a part of that ugliness. The last two years of my spree were spent on street corners trying to sell the only thing I had left, but most times using a gun because what I had left wasn't worth paying for. I suffered from severe drug addiction, "gangsteritis," but most of all complete spiritual and moral bankruptcy. I had hit bottom. I really don't want to get into the things I saw or did or what was going on out there. Trust me when I tell you it was beyond the most horrid of nightmares. What I do want to tell you about is the night God touched me and I awoke from the horror of what was my life. I had gone to the dope house to collect money and drugs. When I walked into the back room I saw a very young girl being used by three men. In payment they were throwing little pieces of crack cocaine onto the floor. I stood watching as she crawled around naked on the floor, shaking and crying, searching for the drugs. I was sickened, disgusted, and seething with internal rage. I felt the gun in my hand without even realizing I had taken it from my pants. To this day I believe the only thing that saved me from committing murder that night was God, and that I couldn't decide who should die - her, them or me. I began to walk. I didn't know where I was going. I didn't care. I was lost. I remember sitting down on the curb and thinking, "Some work of art you are, a gun in your jeans, a pocket full of dope, cash in your sock, and so sick and miserable, death would be a blessing. Maybe it was me who should die." It was at that moment I surrendered and my darkness became light, so bright, so complete. The light of God filled me with warmth, love and peace, and I heard a voice that has no words but speaks directly to your heart It called to me over and over again, "Have you had enough? Are your ready?" I sat for a long time, though it seemed only a moment. I've come to realize God is timeless and when you're in His company He eases the burden of time, a definite bonus in prison. So finally I picked myself up from the curb, totally confused, because I knew beyond a doubt what kind of person I was, and God doesn't visit "BAD" people, does He? About this time a friend pulled his car up next to me and called my name. I got in the car and he asked did I want to go home. I told him where I lived was never a home. He took me to his house. No sooner was I through the door before I was smoking dope. But the funny thing is I couldn't get high; no escape! I really didn't understand until my friend walked into the room. He looked at me, shook his head and said, "Oh Julie haven't you had enough? Aren't you ready? God's waiting you know, and there's no moment so dark that he can't make light." At first I thought, 'This guy must have seen what happened on that curb." But he hadn't. In that moment I knew with all clarity that this friend, who I had never known was a Christian, did not happen along by accident and that what he said was the repeating of a divine message sent just for me alone. I knew no matter who or what I was, God loves me. I knew He was reaching for me because my pain and shame were so great I couldn't reach for Him. I took hold of the Lord's hand and now where He heads I follow. In the beginning it was a very hard path. I had over a dozen felony warrants for my arrest, but in His love I need have no fear. Our first walk was to BCI, Florida State's Maximum Security Prison. Often I've cried, but as time goes by the way gets easier and the scenery more and more beautiful as I learn to see the world through the eyes of Jesus. I still reside in BCI and I'm all right with that because I'm never alone and I'm still walking with the Lord.


GOD'S GRACE

I did not know His love before, the way I know it now.

I could not see my need for Him, My pride would not allow.

I had it all, without a care, the "self-sufficient" lie.

My path was smooth, my sea was still, not a cloud was in my sky.

I thought I knew His love for me, I thought I'd seen His grace.

I thought I did not need to grow, I thought I'd found my place.

But then the way grew rough and dark, the storm clouds quickly rolled;

The waves began to rock my ship, I found I had no hold.

The ship that I had built myself was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare, with nowhere else to hide.

I had no strength or faith to face the trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply spoke His name and bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me, and then He helped me stand.
He said, "You still must face this storm, but I will hold your hand",

So through the dark and lonely night He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day or when I'd smile again.

Yet through the pain and endless tears, my faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time, but my light began to glow.

I saw God's love in a brand new light, His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone could Jesus' love shine through.



Look up the verses below for encouragement.

[1] ROMANS Ch.1 v.16                [2] HEBREWS Ch.2 v.11

[3] HEBREWS Ch.11 v.16          [4] GALATIANS Ch.6 v.10

[5] ROMANS Ch.9 v.33                [6] ROMANS Ch.10 v.11

[7] HEBREWS Ch.10 v.22                   [8] JOSHUA Ch.1 v.5

"He is not Ashamed to Call them His Brothers and Sisters." ... Hebrews 2 v.11

Most families like to keep their secrets a secret. Yet amazingly, you've barely dipped a toe into Matthew's gospel when you realise that Jesus hails from a less-than perfect family. Rahab was a Jericho harlot. Grandpa Jacob was slippery enough to warrant an electric ankle bracelet. David had a personality as irregular as a Picasso painting — one day writing Psalms, another day seducing his captain's wife. But did Jesus erase their names from His list? Not at all. Why did He hang His dirty laundry on the neighbourhood clothesline? Because your family has secrets too. A cousin with a prison record. A dad who left and never came home. A grandparent who ran away with a co-worker. If your family tree has damaged fruit, Jesus wants you to know 'I've been there'. The phrase 'I've been there' is Christ's theme song. To the lonely He whispers 'I've been there'. To the discouraged, He nods His head and sighs 'I've been there'. The absence of Joseph in the adult life of Jesus suggests that Mary may have raised Him and the rest of their children alone. Jesus was not reluctant to call His ancestors His family and He's not ashamed of you either! Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy, are from the same family'. "... He is not ashamed to call them His brothers and sisters" .That means He's not ashamed of you; nor is He confused by you. Your actions don't bewilder Him. Your family secrets don't trouble Him. After all, you're part of His family.

Soul Food Feeding: Matthew Ch.5 v.1-12; Joshua Ch.10 v.5-14

Excerpt taken from The Word 4u 2day, UCB Radio, P0 Box 255, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 SYY Tel 0845 604040. Free Issues available UK and Republic of Ireland


Note from the Editor. It doesn't matter How Bad or Sinful a Place May Be; God's Grace is far more Superior: Romans 5:20 - Where Sin Abounds Grace Does Much More Abound.

If you want to accept Christ into your own life then pray this following prayer. God Bless.

"Dear Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. I am willing to turn away from my sin and now I invite Jesus to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour. I am willing by God's Grace to follow and obey Christ as Lord of my life."

If you have prayed this prayer and have accepted Christ into your heart and life, please let us know, so we can pray and help you in your new life in Christ.
 

9-MAR-07