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There was a wayward son.
The old enemy
had him on the run. In his hand he put a gun. The
world began to offer him a bill of lies, and many false highs.
This son
that was on
the run, his life was out of balance. A fire burned within
and all it did was to breed more sin.
Then pay day came. The piper must be paid. He
took that gun began to run, no money to be found. The piper
had him bound. He was hooked, his body crying out, he
looked and looked. He drove around no drugs to be found.
Driven by rage, he entered a Drug store, pulled out the gun
and another chapter in his life begun.
Shots rang out.
He was hit, and Police all around. The enemy said
“Great! More strife in his life.”
Jim began to
wail, “Oh, man, another stretch in jail.” The old enemy began to strut when he heard those prison
bars shut.
Unknown to
Jim 23 years would be taken from him because of drugs and sin.
Little did he know the hound dog of heaven was on his
heels. He would no longer steal, because he was in for a
better deal. All the strife, drugs and pain, what could he
gain?
New
Life!
All alone and in jail, all
he thought, “is this Hell?” Having lots of time to think, he began to ask “is
there a God? If you’re real, make yourself known.” With those words a new life
began.
He was sentenced once again this time he had a friend that
stuck closer than a brother and loved him like no other.
His name was Jesus. They began this journey together.
The years came and went. Jim paid the price and there
were times of ups, downs, loneliness and love.
He began to share his new found friend, telling brothers
“this road can have a better end.” Brothers came.
Brothers went. He knew they were God sent. Jim
stayed on and on, as others went there own way, some to a greater
day.
God put a
special man in his life, one that was also full of strife at one
time in his life. God did some great healing and dealing in
this life. They became, as Jonathan and David, souls
knitted together in the battle of life.
To Day
I believe
God put two spiritual sons in our life. I am sharing this
from a mother’s heart. Some of these men never had a
dad or mom that cared. We had a family that wanted to be
shared. We also knew we could be ripped off and at times we
were.
There are battle scars and wounds within prison bars, lots
of tears, hidden, in God’s jars as He asked “Who will go?”
We said, “send us” and we went. There were those
we tried to help. They chose another path.
Some years went by when it was hard for me to cry.
We walked their pain. It seemed we could not gain
ground. Other things began taking our time and God brought
us on another path.
We never
really lost touch with Jim. He was special to us. He
married a sweet saint while in Florence and God gave him several
years of joy with our dear sweet sister Alva, God called her home
at a young age. There was another closed page in our lives,
precious memories, how they linger.
I’d had a dream or two along the way, so real, about
a special day when Jim would be set free and at our home.
We’ve had a home or two since then. He wasn’t
up for parole till 1999. It was hard to believe it was
coming up. It seemed like we were saying “Be set
free in ‘83'!” or
“Out the door in ‘84'!”
Low
and behold it was time to write these letters once again, Here we go again!
Ruth, a friend, and I got them out, praying and believing for favor. I got a
call in February, they granted him parole. SHOUT THE VICTORY! I tell you some
of it was hard to understand. But God knows what’s best and the right timing.
Jim met a lovely lady and married her. Her name is
Mara. God did not want man to be left alone,
especially Jim. Mara says he’s a good looker. We
agreed. We would like to share that in February 1999
Jim was set free.
He could not visit, the system would not let go of him.
But, God with his precious loving way said, “it’s
time, let him go.” Off came the cuffs.
July 14, 1999, a Saturday, our spiritual boy came to visit
us. Friend and family gathered. We had partaken of
the‘ fatted calf’. Spaghetti had to have meat in
it. We rejoiced and rejoiced.
On Sunday, July 15 God began to give me this tribute to a
son that once was lost, but was found. He now stands on
holy ground, a precious saint by his side, Mara, his new bride.
"From
a Mama’s heart”
You’ve
once again brought hope into my life, as we work thru some hard
places, we know our God is able. Not only able, but he will
accomplish what he says in his ‘word’. The canker
worm stole but God gives back one hundred fold.
From my
heart, I thank you for being obedient to God, and for not giving
up. Today you stand out of prison on ‘Holy Ground.’
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This page was made
with permission from Carol McPherson.
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