Ripping Again - 405

  Church at the jail last night was pretty amazing and Whooooaaaa did God show up and show out last night.  For anyone that is really close in their walk with God, or just anyone that happens to Know Yahweh, i am sure that you have experieced the "wash of the Holy Spirit".  This is such a beautiful feeling, such a closeness to our Creator and such a blessing to receive.  It is the softest caress from the inside out and top down that anyone could ever feel.  So gentle is God's touch and so awe inspiring a gift to know that He cares for us.  i couldn't help but share that before a little news on work. 

  i have been fortunate to have been called into my old job at the furniture frame factory for the rest of the week.  Back to running the industrial rip saw during the day at least for a few more. There were several things since last fall that really added to the decline in work.  The obvious is that winter is not a landscaping season even if you do happen to live in the south.  But there were other issues and lessons from God that i have taken in and taken to heart and these have strenghthened me and my faith over the last few months.  Lean months and GoOD lessons from Father.
  We ran around 3,500 pieces today which is well below what we used to run, but then again it was just day one out of the gate.  i thought my old injuries would flare up and not allow me to work in this capacity again, but it went well and i covered the aches with prayer and some song amid the noise of the factory.  This really brought forth some humility and gratitude to realize that it doesn't matter the situation, circumstances and surroundings because you can always be with God in your walk.  Praise Him.

Thank You Father!  ~ your little ant
 

Church - 312

There's a Tuesday in every week and tonight was Church night at Clay County Jail - That's the Church i call home.  The sermon this evening was based on Job 21:15:
  "Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him?
  And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?"

Prayer strengthens our bond and relationship with God the Almighty.  When we work on a relationship with someone, we spend time with them and talk to get to know them better.  That's all prayer is, talking with God - The One God that created you - and getting to know Him better.  What a better Friend and Counselor, Comforter and Master Carpenter do we have in the Lord?  None better and none more deserving of our time and service as He blesses the path and purpose for which He created you.

Our purpose here is to serve and God created good works for us to walk in before we even arrived here.  Seek Him and wait on Him in the silent comfort of your secret place.

God Bless,
~ab

Phillipians 4: 6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Wow! - 123

  We just got back from church tonight at the jail in Clay County and we were all blessed with a great service.  There is a true church family that has developed over the past year there, one that is strong and connects us all at the heart.  This is a church of inmate trustees, visiting family and friends, police officers, and paroles that began many years ago.  These men and women are all my brothers and sisters in Jeshua.

It is hard to put into words the love that i feel for this prison ministry work and "The Church" inside the jail.  Every Tuesday night at 7:00 pm Church gets underway and The Holy Spirit is invited to feed us The Word.  There is a portion of the service that is devoted to "testimony time" where anyone can stand up and provide a personal testimony of what God has done in their lives.  Some like to share a song or a scripture and there is the occasional mini-sermon.

I always leave there filled to the brim with joy, excitement, and definitely the peace that transcends all understanding.  It is a gift to be part of this family and to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit wash, share and teach.  As one former inmate turned pastor shares, "God took a mess, and made a messenger."

Thank You Heavenly Father,

~ ab