Monthly Archive: December 2016

Joy To The World

https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-hand-holding-heart-shape-with-text-253208/Luke 2:10-11  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Dearly Beloved:  May God’s grace, peace, love, salvation, truth, righteousness, protection, glory and light be ever upon you!  Merry Christmas and happy new year!  You know, I think it is so fitting to celebrate the new year right after we celebrate the birth of our MIGHTY SAVIOR.  When we get saved, we start fresh with a clean slate.  Isn’t that what we are taught to do in every new year?  This time of year is all about new beginnings.  That’s also what JESUS is all about.  That’s what His wonderful salvation does for us when we accept Him.  He washes us clean and we get a fresh start.  That is why it is called being “Born Again”.  Our first birth is a physical one; while our second birth is spiritual.  Now that may seem tough for some of you to grasp.  It is kind of like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.  For Christians, our cocoon is the word of GOD.  We must wrap it around us.  We must let it envelope our entire being.  Most importantly, we must remain in our spiritual cocoon until our physical life ends.  On that day, we will be released from our cocoon and fly away home into the loving arms of the LORD.  None of that would be possible if it weren’t for the birth of Jesus.  HIS is the most important birth in the history of mankind.  Praise His mighty name!  Shout hallelujah!  His birth changed the world forever.  Not even the atheist can deny that.  We need to focus on the meaning of the birth of Christ – Liberty!  Freedom from the darkness of sin! (more…)

Missed Opportunity

https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-person-school-head-455/Acts 13:47  For so the Lord has commanded us:  ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’

Dearly Beloved:  May GOD’s grace, peace, courage, strength and LOVE be ever upon you.  This is a very sad time for me.  My eldest brother passed away on November 19th.  I did not find out until two days ago.  He had been estranged from the family.  I loved him very much, though I did not show it enough.  I deeply regret not getting to know him better.  We did not grow up together.  He was nearly twenty years older than I. In his youth, my father immigrated to Africa in search of a better life for his brothers and sisters.  His parents had both died, leaving him as the eldest sibling, to raise his brothers and sister.  It was there in Senegal, Africa where my eldest brother was born.  My brother was the spitting image of my father.  My father sired a large family in Africa before immigrating to America where myself and my two younger siblings were born.  My mother is a Caucasian-American.  My father worked very hard and saved his money.  Eventually, he earned enough to bring his African born children to America.  I remember meeting my older brothers for the first time.  I was five years old at the time.  I had stared at their pictures before they came.  Father told me lots of heart-warming stories about them.  They were like rock stars to me.  And when the day came where I finally got to meet them, I was so excited.  I remember teaching them English and playing with them for hours on end.  They were all musical prodigies.  They had been performing since they were knee high to a grasshopper.  I loved watching them perform.  They would practice for shows at my Dad’s house.  Those were great times. (more…)

Focus On God

https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sincerely-praying-in-focus-photography-192555/Mark 14:38  “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Dearly Beloved:  May God’s grace, peace, joy and love be ever upon you.  There are a lot of distractions in this world.  Things like sex, drugs, money, lust, toys and gambling.  My biggest distraction has always been women.  In the four years that I have been incarcerated, I have sworn off women.  I haven’t even considered them.  For the most part, I’ve kept my focus on God.  I have never been good at choosing the right women.  Thus, after becoming a Christian, I made up my mind to remain single.  Besides, what woman would want to marry a lifer?  I am broke and I can’t take care of her physical needs.  All I have to offer is love, devotion, loyalty and support.  Without my physical presence, that is not enough for most women.  Over the years, a few have reached out to me, but I just brushed them off – not wanting to take a chance of being hurt.  I am a man and GOD gives me strength, but I still have feelings just like almost everyone else.  (I have met some in my time who are truly heartless.)

Some months back I began corresponding with a very beautiful woman.  I was in a very depressed and vulnerable state at the time.  I kept her at arms length at first.  I intended only to be a friend to her.  Well, after several months of getting to know her I became smitten with her.  She had been through a lot and like me, she’s a survivor.  Her story touched me deeply and (more…)