VL - Issue 17 - August 2015

REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE

MURF the SURATFLight THE

END OF THE TUNNEL

Quarterly Publication | Issue 3 2015

A Publication of Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries

PRISONER OF

HOPE

Redeeming Love

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KOJ WR A

I WAS IN

PRISON And You Visited Me.

Matthew 25:36

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

No More Buts about It! When I look at my family, I can’t help but recognize the awesome, redeeming love of God. Two of my children were once Russian orphans. They had no family and no place to call home. But then God stepped in and changed their lives—and ours, too—forever. In His grace, God joined our hearts together from across the world and made us a family. And He didn’t stop there. He even reunited our children with their Russian siblings— something that should have been impossible, given the private nature of adoptions. Then He went further and opened doors for me to return to Russia to share His amazing, redeeming love with others. My daughter and I spent two life-changing weeks in Russia just last month, ministering to the hearts of the children and workers in the orphanage from where we adopted her.

Every time I see my children and think of our lives, all I can say is, “Wow! Only God could have done such a thing!”

For a while, the dream of a family looked hopeless to my children as they waited for their very own mamas and papas to arrive to take them home. In the natural, their circumstances looked bleak. Their family heritage was filled with poverty, addiction, and homelessness. Indeed, the odds were against them.

The dream my husband and I had of enlarging our family through adoption also at times seemed unattainable, as we waited to receive God’s promise of more children. Political rivalries between Russia and the United States, ever-changing adoption laws, and various medical trials had put what seemed to be an impenetrable wall between us and our children.

But God showed up, and He made a way! When all the odds were against us, God opened doors and caused His plan—greater than anything we could have imagined— to come to fruition.

I love the phrase but God. All through the Bible, we read of people who faced impossible situations, but then their stories finish with statements like “But God raised him from the dead.”

“But God saved him.”

“But God fought the battle and gave them victory.” “But God remembered Noah.”

“But God opened her womb.”

That word but in the Bible brings such promise and power.

Every time we read a statement like that, it vividly shows

how God can do anything. Yet so often we don’t use the word in this powerful, life-changing way. Instead, we use it negatively—we say things like, “But God, how can this possibly happen?” “But God, I don’t have the ability or resources or time to do what You’re asking me to do. I just can’t.” “But God, I’m the wrong gender…I’m too young…too old…I’m the wrong color.” “But God, I’ve sinned so greatly, I can’t be used. No one will listen to me.” “But God, they hurt me so badly.” “But God, I’m so tired.”

We follow our but Gods with excuses backed by doubt, fear, and pride. It’s time to turn our butts around (sorry, I just couldn’t resist) and praise God for who He is— all-powerful, faithful, kind, loving, generous, and forgiving.

An ever-present help in time of need.

What if, in the middle of our next crisis, we agree with God and say, “But God will provide a way. He is able!”

“But God’s love and His Word will not fail me. He is faithful.” “But God will work all things out for good. He is love.” “But God will grant me strength. He is powerful.”

“But God will redeem me. He is a restorer.” “But God will have the final say. He is above all.”

One thing is for sure: our circumstances would begin to change. When our hearts become aligned with the promises of God, no weapon forged against us can prosper. He says so Himself.

No matter how formidable the obstacles we face, God can make a way. Never doubt it! And not only is He able, but He is willing. Many think, “Well, I know God can heal.

He could change my situation if He wanted to…if it’s His will.” But they don’t really believe He will do anything on their behalf.

My family is a testimony of God’s ability to change situations. So are the lives of the other contributors in this issue of Victorious Living. You are about to read how God redeemed a hardened criminal, restored a man with addictions, healed a brokenhearted husband, gave a family to a Chinese orphan, strengthened women going through debilitating medical trials, and helped abused children find true life in adulthood. When life seemed over, when all hope seemed lost, God intervened.

God wants you to know that you can have hope. No matter what your doctor has said, no matter your financial situation, no matter your current circumstances or projected future—no matter…no matter…no matter— there is hope. No situation is too hard for God. No one, not even you, is so far gone that He will not go to battle for you. God wants you to know He loves you. He desires more than anything to show Himself faithful and mighty in your life. So no more ifs, ands, or buts about it—just ask and believe.

God bless,

Publisher/Editor Kristi Overton Johnson Editor Rachel F. Overton Contributors Chris B. Roy A. Borges Becky Coursen Linda Cubbedge Kristi Dale Bonnie Hagemann James Islam Kristi Overton Johnson Bobby Joiner Jacob Miller Nate Miller Jack R. Murphy Wendy Petzold Tracy Stewart Joan Tyson

Creative Director/Graphic Design Whispering Dog Design, Inc. Amy Zackowski amy@whisperingdog.com Partnership Support victoriousliving@kojministries.org Cover Photography Joey Meddock Photography Photography AP Press Amy Barry Albert Coya Sara Davis Photography Joey Meddock Portrait Innovations Victorious Living PO Box 120951 Clermont, FL 34712-0951 352.478.2098 • fax 888.837.9153 Victorious Living Prison Outreach All Inmate Correspondence PO Box 968 Keystone Heights, FL 32656 Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation.

Scripture marked niv is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, niv® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Scripture marked nkjv is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson. Scripture marked esv is taken from the English Standard Version, Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Scripture marked msg is taken from The Message, Copyright ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All scripture versions are used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Table of Contents Issue 3 2015

Are you experiencing victorious living?

Is your life filled with

purpose, love, joy, and peace?

Do you have

hope for your future?

Forgiveness for your past?

Strength for your tomorrow?

Right now you might be thinking, “Are you kidding me? Joy, peace, purpose? Worth, strength, forgiveness? I’ll never have those things! Look at where I am! Look at what I’ve been through. Look at what I’ve done.

Look at what has been done to me.”

Friend, right now, no matter what your past

or present, all of these things can be yours. You can have peace that passes all understanding, joy in the

midst of hardship, love and acceptance despite your failures, forgiveness, and a fresh start. Your life can have purpose.

It doesn’t matter if you are sitting in a mansion or in a jail cell or somewhere in between, a victorious life can be

yours TodaY!

How? Through a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

If you do not currently have a relationship with God, begin one right now. Romans 10:8–10 nkjv explains how: “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

As you accept what Christ has done for you and put your faith in Him alone for salvation, you are then free to have a relationship with God and experience His peace, power, presence, and love. You don’t have to do anything to earn God’s love and forgiveness. It’s yours for the asking!

After you’ve received this free gift of salvation, guess what? You are then able to step into the life of victory Christ died to give you—an abundant life of peace, joy, worth, love, and purpose. As you grow in your relationship with Him through studying and applying the Word of God and by trusting Him, these things are released in your daily life.

Will you pray with me right now and receive all that God intends for you?

Dear Lord, I confess that I am a sinner in need of salvation. I thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to save me from my sins. Thank You that He laid down His life for me so that I could have a new life in Him. I receive, by faith, this forgiveness of sin. I now give my life, my past, and my future to You. Guide my steps and speak to my heart, Lord.

Amen

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No More Buts about It! Kristi Overton Johnson It Doesn’t Take Much Kristi Overton Johnson Ugly Houses and Beautiful Flowers Becky Coursen God Uses What He Chooses Linda Cubbedge On Assignment Bonnie Hagemann Redeeming Love Kristi Dale Be Not Afraid Roy A. Borges An Italian Fall Jacob Miller Prisoner of Hope Joan Tyson A Persistent God Chris B. Murf the Surf: Light at the End of the Tunnel Kristi Overton Johnson The Gospel According to Murf Jack R. Murphy I’ve Got Your Back Kristi Overton Johnson Lessons from Chris Kristi Overton Johnson Free from Fred Tracy Stewart Happy Feet James Islam Time on My Hands Wendy Petzold The Humble Seat Bobby Joiner Ministry News Me Mode Nate Miller From Our Readers

Share Your Story!

Do you have a story of victory? Share it with our readers!

Your story has the power to transform lives and bring much needed hope. Here are the guidelines: • Submissions are not guaranteed to be included in the magazine.

• Submission is acknowledgment of your granting KOJM and Victorious Living publication rights to produce your submission in this magazine and other ministry publications.

• Photos submitted must have photographer’s and each photographed subjects’ consent of use.

• Photographer’s name must be included. Hard copies of photographs will not be returned.

• Victorious Living does not pay for submissions.

• Submissions should be a maximum of 800 words and are subject to editing.

• Mail submissions to: Victorious Living, PO Box 120951, Clermont, FL 34712-0951; or submit online at kojministries.org.

• Victorious Living is a free quarterly publication distributed to KOJ Ministries partners, at various distribution locations, and within the prison system.

Victorious Living

MISSION

The purpose of Victorious Living is to declare freedom for the captive through true testimonials of God’s grace, love, and power in the lives of everyday people. A captive is anyone enslaved to their circumstances, relationships, thought patterns, habits, or emotions. A captive can be incarcerated or living in a free society. They can be of any age, gender, race, and socio-economic background.

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REFRESH YOUR SOUL

It Doesn’t Take Much

Since 2003, I have been privileged to share my love of water sports and the hope I have in Jesus Christ together with people from all walks of life.

The In His Wakes outreach ministry and their A Day to Remember program provides me with a favorite way to do this. There are people at every IHW event who, for some reason or another, refuse to join in the water-sports activities. This saddens me because I know they are missing out on what could very well be the most incredible day of their life—a day of victory and breakthrough.

Recently, I encountered a few such people standing on the sidelines, unwilling to take to the water. Through them, God reminded me of a very powerful truth: it doesn’t take much to change a person’s experience in life.

My first such encounter this year was with a teenage girl at a military base event in Florida. I couldn’t help but notice that she had isolated herself from the rest of the group and was hanging back by the trees. I’d already seen her in several conversations with the leaders who’d brought her to the event. I walked over to her and immediately sensed she was

by Kristi Overton Johnson

not having a good day. There were tears in her eyes.

“Is there anything I can do to help make your day a little better?” I asked.

She shook her head no and then whispered, “It’s stupid.”

“What’s stupid?” I asked her.

“My bathing suit didn’t pass inspection. If I want to go in the water, I have to go in my clothes. I don’t want to swim in my clothes!”

“Well,” I said, “that’s an easy fix. It just so happens that I have a bathing suit in my car that doesn’t fit me. Last time I wore it, my husband asked me if I was wearing my daughter’s suit! That comment ruined me from ever wearing that suit in public again. I don’t even know why I brought it to this event…it must have been just for you!”

She was hesitant at first, but with a little reassuring, she accepted my offer. Within moments, this teen was on the water, having the time of her life. The thank-you letter I received a week after that event proves how incredibly powerful a small act of kindness can be.

There was another girl hanging back as well, this time due to fear. I’d had some success moving her out of her comfort zone, but it wasn’t until her leader, a sergeant, said she’d go out on the water with her that this girl rose up from her chair and got behind the boat on a tube.

The sergeant climbed aboard the tube completely decked out in her military garb. It was awesome! Girls lined up on the bank to ride with her. They had such a great time together.

At another event in North Carolina, a shower cap came to the rescue. One young lady had invested hours in fixing her hair, and she was unwilling to get it wet. It just so happened that I had an unused shower cap packed in my suitcase. I walked over to the lake house and retrieved it for her. The funny thing is that I don’t even wear shower caps, yet I had felt the need to pack it and travel through five states with it for over a month!

When I knelt down and gave the girl the shower cap, she looked confused and asked, “You really went all the way over there just to get me a shower cap?”

And then, in all seriousness, she added, “You’re an angel.”

Soon this girl was out on the water with the rest of the group, having the time of her life, swimming, riding in the boat, and bouncing on top of the water on a tube and kneeboard! When the girl returned to her group-home parents, a leader overheard her say, “And she went all the way to her house and got me a shower cap so my hair wouldn’t get messed up!”

Now, I am by no means an angel. For goodness sakes, all I did was give the girl a shower cap that I’d picked up from a hotel somewhere! It took five minutes of my time and gave me some exercise in the process. Yet her statement shows the incredible impact a small act of generosity can have on a person’s life.

It doesn’t take a whole lot to change the course of someone’s day. For the first girl, all it took was for me to give up my too-small-for-my-forty-five-year-oldbutt bathing suit. For the second girl, it was a sergeant who was willing to climb on a tube, still in uniform, and have some fun. And for the third girl, it took a complimentary shower cap. As a result, all three girls left with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts.

They also left knowing the Lord and His love.

All around us, there are people whose whole day could change if we would do just two things: take notice, and be willing to give a little of ourselves.

This is the secret to touching lives. First, we must take notice. We must be willing to look outside of ourselves and notice others. Too often we are so focused on ourselves that we don’t even see that others are in need. Second, we must be willing to act.

Many times, we stop at noticing. We see someone needs something, but we don’t act. It’s the action that shows Christ’s love. Our actions lead others to Him. Our actions prove our faith. (See James 2:14–26.)

Here’s the thing. We all have something to give, no matter who or where we are. These three incidents prove that it doesn’t take much to bless someone. What is little to us isn’t little to someone else. Sometimes it’s not even a thing that someone needs; rather, it’s a smile, a hug, a prayer, or a word of encouragement. People just need to know they’re noticed. Sometimes it’s sharing your passions and talents with someone else…like water-skiing. I would never have imagined how water-skiing could change people’s lives for eternity!

Together, let’s determine to look around and be willing to act on what we see. Let’s be willing to give a little of ourselves. As we do, amazing things will happen, and not only will others be blessed, but we are sure to find blessings for ourselves as we become God’s angels in disguise. V

Kristi Overton Johnson, former world champion water-skier, is the founder of In His Wakes Ministry, KOJ Ministries, and publisher of Victorious Living magazine. She resides in Florida with her husband, Tim, and their three children.

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Ugly Houses and Beautiful Flowers There’s a small town I drive through quite often.

I love this town. It only takes about thirty seconds to pass through if the stoplight is green. A classic village look provides its charm—a white, steepled church on the corner, a small grocer opposite, an active fire department complete with chili cook-off benefit banners, and a tidy, red-roofed ice cream shop. Houses line the road and are generally low- to middle-class dwellings. Their various wood sidings act as spring and summer backdrops for clusters of petunias, pansies, and marigolds.

One house in particular is notable for its decayed and neglected state. Yet that house is also conspicuous for sporting the most beautiful flower displays around. The hollyhocks, lilies, dahlias, and other summer flowers had caught my eye before, but one day my daughter noticed. As we drove through town, she broke a companionable silence.

“Have you ever noticed that beautiful flowers love ugly, old, falling-down houses?” she asked.

And God planted those words in my heart for a later use.

It was a warm, summer day when we noticed the flowers, but the recent winter was still cold and icy in my memory. I had needed and grown to love my church, but that winter, it had suffered a blow from which I was sure it would not recover.

Rebellion and pride had somehow found a crack in the concrete; they’d wriggled in, taken root, grown bolder, and split a foundation block. Half the church had crumbled away. The wounded, trembling remainder reacted numbly and mechanically in an attempt to put it all together again, but I felt sadly confident that it was the beginning of decay, neglect, and eventual death. I mourned as anyone would who had lost a loved one; yet I’ve learned that true and righteous mourning in the life of a Christian always passes away.

And then, one morning, I experienced a healing shot of hope and joy as God recalled my daughter’s words to me. A splinter of light burst through the darkness, and I knew what He was trying to say.

I got it!

Yes, this is painful. It’s sad. No, you’ll never quite comprehend it; there’s no call for you to comprehend it. No, you’ll never figure out what

by Becky Coursen

actually happened or who was right and who was wrong.

You don’t need to. What was old has passed away so that the new can come.

Rest in Me. Know that I am the master of creation and re-creation, restoration and redemption. I take pleasure in creating and restoring. A bed of ruin and decay is the most fertile field for a masterpiece. Wait and you will see my dazzling flower display over your ugly, old, falling-down house.

And I began to see that the Word of God is resplendent with examples revealing His creative, restorative nature. He does not recreate and restore perfect beautiful things. He chooses withered hands, useless legs, sin-ridden lives, hopeless outlooks, sightless eyes. He picks up mud and makes an eye!

He takes ugliness and creates beauty. He takes a tear and turns it to joy. He smashes darkness with His light. He takes the rotten boards of an ugly, old house and brings forth a bouquet of dahlias, hollyhocks, and lilies!

Flowers are representative for me now of what I believe will spiritually grow out from the rotten bits and pieces of that icy winter. God doesn’t leave His people desolate for long.

While I wait to see flowers—whether material or spiritual—there is much work to do. I am called to patiently plod along in my labors, and this can be difficult. Sometimes I wonder if maybe I didn’t hear God correctly. Maybe my own wishful thinking let me imagine that I’d even heard from Him. Yet when I deeply examine my heart, I cannot deny that the message was pure. So I keep doing what little I can to root out evil, intrusive weeds, plump up the good plants that still exist, drop a little fertilizer into the ground, and even plant a few seedlings here and there. I keep close to God, my Father, and I wait.

I’ve learned something here. A handful of rotting mulch and dirt scooped up in my hands isn’t quite a handful of dead dirt anymore. It’s the stuff where new things happen, where flowers grow. God can bring restoration from the most devastated places… in the most devastated lives. In His hands, your ugly, old, falling-down life can become the backdrop for a wonderful masterpiece.

The one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:5). V

Becky Coursen is an artist and a highschool English teacher in Northeast Ohio. She hears God best when she is outside working in her flower beds with her dog, Buddy, and her brand new beehives. www.kojministries.org 7

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God Uses What He Chooses Just a few months before our youngest son graduated from high school, he announced that he wanted to go to college so he could continue playing football. He had been a kicker and punter since the eighth grade and was really good at his position. He’d received several invitations from various colleges, encouraging him to be part of their football programs.

They weren’t offering him big scholarship money, but they were presenting an opportunity for him to be a part of the football team. So we began the process of figuring out which one he would attend.

One morning, I was praying about one college in particular, asking God to clearly show us whether this was the school my son should attend. God answered my prayer that day in a very unusual way. I was sitting in my bedroom, looking out of my window, when suddenly, a bright red cardinal flew by and perched on my bird feeder. The birds that usually visited my bird feeder were sparrows, bluebirds, and blackbirds.

But that day, as I prayed, a beautiful red cardinal appeared.

It’s hard to explain, but in the beauty of that experience, I was flooded with peace. I just knew in my spirit that God was hearing my prayers and directing my family’s footsteps. He had used this little cardinal as His messenger to bring assurance in my time of need.

My husband and I drove our son to college several states away from our Florida home in July 2010. We helped him move into his dorm and prepare for this new season of his young life, and then we began our drive home. We left the college, merged onto a very busy interstate, and within minutes—wouldn’t you know it—a bright red cardinal flew across that busy interstate, right in front of our SUV. I was absolutely overwhelmed that God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, would take the time to reassure us that our son was right where God wanted him by prompting that beautiful cardinal to fly past at that exact moment.

Since that morning, God has continued to use the appearance of cardinals at unusual times and places to remind our family of His faithful promise to lead us and guide us in our journey of life. While having conversations with the

Lord about situations that seem overwhelming— whether in my home, driving my car, or waiting in a fast-food lane—beautiful red cardinals make their appearance. Every time, I am flooded with confident hope as I am reminded that God has a plan. I simply need to seek Him and trust Him to sort out whatever challenge I am facing.

So? What’s the big deal? It’s just a bird. Why would this great big God who has angels to command and stars to hang care enough to encourage one of His children with a bird? Because the Lord our God cares about every detail of our lives, and He loves to remind us through visible ways that He is always—always— guiding us as we look to Him. In my case, God used a bird.

Do you realize there are over 10,000 species of birds alone? And God, on the fifth day of creation, formed the birds, as well as the other animals? Genesis 2:19 says, “The Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky.”

Now, I am not a birdwatcher, nor am I interested in the study of birds, but I decided to Google some facts about birds while writing this article. I find myself blown away by the colors and designs of these created things called birds! Just listen to this.

God created a sponge-like pad between the head of a woodpecker and its bill to absorb the shock when the bird strikes a tree. And He created small barbs along the feathers of each bird—as many as one million barbs per feather—to act like zippers to lock the feathers together. This not only waterproofs the bird, but it also enables it to catch air under its wings so it can fly!

This makes me stop to ask the obvious question.

What kind of God would take the time to intricately form these fascinating winged creatures? An amazingly creative God, that’s who! One who doesn’t miss a thing; One who delights in beauty. From the beginning of time, birds have brought incredible enjoyment to mankind and served specific purposes.

There are many biblical examples of God using birds to guide and provide for His children. Noah sent a dove out of the ark to notify him when the flood waters had receded (Genesis 8:8–12). Ravens fed Elijah bread and meat every morning and evening when he was hiding at the Kerith brook, just as God commanded them (1 Kings 17:2–6). John the Baptist saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and settle on Jesus after His water baptism (Matthew 3:16).

And Jesus reminded His disciples of the watchful eye of God through the story of the sparrow. Not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without our heavenly Father knowing it (Matthew 10:29).

Some of the most heartrending words from the mouth of Jesus are found in Matthew 23:37:

by Linda Cubbedge

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.”

God has consistently used these tiny messengers to express His provision in many ways. Now, please don’t misunderstand what I am saying here. I am not suggesting that we seek a sign or a bird for answers.

We are to seek Jesus Christ alone in every area of our lives. We are to read His Word and build our lives upon it as it is the anchor of our souls. God’s Word is the very thing that grows our faith and enlarges our comprehension of what an amazing and wonderful creator, savior, deliverer, and faithful God He truly is. But as we seek Him, we cannot forget the truth that God uses what He chooses to encourage us and remind us of His promises.

Let me close with one last cardinal story. A couple of years ago, our son was on a job in a small subdivision in the same state where he attended college. He texted me a photo of a mailbox with a male and female cardinal painted on it. The address on the mailbox had the numbers 633. After I had looked at the picture on my phone, I walked through my living room and glanced at a plaque I had seen many times before. This time, however, the verse on the plaque seemingly jumped off the wall. It read: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 nkjv). My eyes looked at the plaque with such purpose this time, and then I realized the number on the mailbox in the picture was 633. It was another God moment; another reminder to simply seek Him and everything I need will be given to me. How thankful I am that God uses what He chooses to continually remind me of His presence and love.

Thank You, Lord, for Your promises and for Your creativity. Thank You for choosing unique ways to communicate hope to Your people. Open our eyes, Lord, to see You at work in our lives. Amen.

“He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (Psalm 91:4). V

Linda Cubbedge is the director of KOJM’s Prison Correspondence Outreach. She is passionate about the Lord and leading others to Him. Linda has four children, nine grandchildren, and one greatgrandson.

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On Assignment Several years ago, a friend introduced our family to a visiting African minister, and we all attended a church meeting together.

At the meeting, we sat on bleachers in what used to be a hockey rink. The service was very active; people were moving around freely rather than sitting stoically in their seats. As the musicians played, the man from Africa sat down beside me and read this scripture to me: “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father” (Genesis 26:3 esv).

After reading, he emphatically tapped his finger on top of the scripture and said, “Stay in your business.”

I listened and nodded, but I was thinking, “How could this man possibly know that my business is struggling, and I want to get out?” I searched my mind for conversations that would have given him this information, but there were none. Nor had I shared this information with others. Only the Holy Spirit could have given him this word.

About a week later, our friends brought this same man to our home for dinner. Now, I’m not really much of a cook, but I was quite proud of the meal I had made that day—complete with chicken and potatoes, carrots and corn. We even had hot rolls, gravy, dessert, and coffee. But when they arrived for dinner, I learned the man from Africa was fasting.

I was disappointed that he wasn’t going to eat my rare and delicious dinner, but I was happy that he was fasting. Surely that would make him closer to God and better able to hear whatever God wanted him to say. Surely, this man of God would pray over our family and speak a word of encouragement straight from the Lord.

We sat down to dinner and ate and visited. I have to admit, I felt mildly guilty eating in front of our new friend. The entire evening, he had only hot tea with a dash of milk and an apple. When we all stood to leave, he asked to pray a blessing over our home, and then it came—a beautiful picture of what God would do through our family. It was such a gift from God. When this man returned to the United States the following year, he stayed with us for two days. Again he was fasting. He was raising awareness for the work his church was doing in Africa, important work that needed funds. I asked the Lord how I could assist him. I would soon find out.

I drove him to the airport as he was leaving for Africa. I wasn’t planning to coach him, but as an executive coach who counsels people all the time, sometimes words of instruction just start flowing out of my mouth.

I coached him on leadership and other things that came up as promptings in my heart. All the way to the airport, the coaching came bubbling up, fast and direct. He received every word and asked questions to deepen his understanding.

It was definitely a God moment, and we both knew it.

This past May, our friend returned to the United States and stayed with us for two weeks.

As before, he was raising awareness and funds for his work in Africa. The very first morning that he stayed in our home, God impressed on my heart to let him know that God had sent him on this trip to give to others, not just to gather. He was to listen with big ears to the Lord, and then be God’s trumpet and share what God was leading him to say.

He received this message completely and told me later that it was a great relief to him. He had felt so much pressure to raise funds. He felt he could now relax and be used by God, instead of focusing on returning home with a set amount of money or pledges. There was more important work at hand— God’s work.

He stayed those two weeks, resting, going to churches and prayer meetings, and visiting with pastors around the city. He also took some time to ask me about some of the leadership issues we had discussed on his previous trip. Again, the coaching came. Out of my heart bubbled direction, guidance, locations of resources, and other information that he needed for his leadership role as senior pastor back in Africa. I provided him with a document that I use to help executives plan and set goals for their own leadership. We went through it line by line.

He worked hard to do his part in our impromptu coaching session.

On the last morning of his stay, I went for a run and asked God about the man from Africa. Was there any more God wanted me to do? I had no more

by Bonnie Hagemann

promptings in my heart, so I finished my run with peace and joy, feeling that I had accomplished all He intended at this time. Just prior to returning home, I saw a mental picture of a gold medal. God often speaks to me in images. I immediately understood that I was on a special assignment from God, to use my skills to help one of God’s champions.

I think of it like the military. The US Army has its special forces—highly trained men and women who are ready to respond to a special assignment on a moment’s notice. As believers, every one of us is a member of God’s special forces, and He has specific assignments in various areas for each of us. No one is exempt.

AS BELIEVERS, EVERY ONE OF US IS A MEMBER OF GOD’S SPECIAL FORCES, AND HE HAS SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENTS. NO ONE IS EXEMPT.

These assignments may be in business, hospitality, sports, the arts, media, service, or one of many other areas. Our assignments usually come in areas where we excel; they are in line with our natural abilities.

As members of God’s special forces, we must be prepared, trained up, alert to opportunities, and willing to respond. Philippians 2:13 says, “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” What an amazing privilege we have to partner with God and be used by Him to encourage and equip others in God’s kingdom work. Just as the Lord used my friend to help guide me in some major decisions, He used me to develop leadership skills within my friend.

God uses each of us in special ways to help one another. Are you ready? He has an assignment for you, too. V

Bonnie Hagemann is a member of the board of directors for KOJ Ministries. Bonnie is also the CEO of Executive Development Associates, an internationally known boutique consulting firm.

To date, Bonnie is the author of thirty-two published works.

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Redeeming Love

by Kristi Dale

I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles.

I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.

Many years and two biological children later, my husband and I revisited our feelings and thoughts on adoption and felt as if God were saying, “Now is the time!”

We’d determined that this adoption would be led

by God, and He showed us that a Chinese daughter with special needs was right for our family. The adoption process is a long and often tedious “paper pregnancy.” I procrastinated on paperwork and felt disconnected with the process in its early stages.

During the beginning steps, we were not yet matched with a specific child, so it was difficult to see the finish line. But God was there, tugging us along and helping us make all the deadlines.

The first page of my adoption journal reads, “To our precious child we haven’t met or seen, yet have an overflowing love for.” I wondered as I wrote those words who this little one was and how long it would be before I saw her face. The adoption agency told us that, even after all of our paperwork was approved, it could take eight months or more to find our daughter.

God had different plans.

The phone rang at 11:00 that night. I was asleep.

I was not expecting a call this soon—we’d only been waiting two months. My husband rushed into the bedroom with the phone. Liz, our adoption manager in Seattle, was on the other end of the call. “We think we’ve found your daughter, and she is beautiful. We are e-mailing her file to you right now.”

I was excited but also apprehensive. Would I be able to handle and adapt to her special needs?

Would she love me? Would she get along with my two biological daughters, ages eight and five? How in the world was I going to fly on a plane for twenty-four

hours? Was I ready for a toddler in the house again?

A hundred questions and concerns circled round my head. But God took my concerns and refocused my heart. After a time a prayer, God gave me these verses in Zephaniah 3:19–20 niv.

“I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes, says the Lord.”

You see, our daughter had been abandoned in a shopping mall at one week old. Now God was asking me to forget all of my concerns and selfishness and focus on our daughter. She had been exiled, and she needed a home. God was going to use our family to restore and redeem her. But God’s redemptive hand was at work in my life as well. He was giving me the strength and power to accomplish a task for His kingdom. I did not know how many sleepless, anxiety-filled nights there would be as I laid all of my concerns at Jesus’s feet. Nor did I know how much sweeter my relationship with God would become as I trusted Him more deeply.

Sometimes figuring out God’s will can be tricky, and we’re not sure which way to turn. Other times though, somehow you rest in God’s will, knowing the peace you feel means that you are right where God wants you. That’s where my husband and I were the day we boarded the plane for China. God had prepared our hearts for our daughter, and we knew we had to gather her and bring her home.

Photo credit: Sara Davis Photography

I was alone for a moment with my baby, a stranger in a large Chinese city. A thick haze of pollution clouded the tall buildings that, in turn, blocked my view of the sky. I sat on the curb, watching people shuffle past. Most of the women stopped to smile and speak to my baby. The sights and sounds around me confirmed that I was farther away from home than I had ever been, yet I felt peaceful.

Anyone who knows me knows I am afraid of pretty much everything. So for me to feel peace in China— thousands of miles away from home—meant that God was there with us. It did not matter how scared I was or how many obstacles there were; my husband and I were going to get our daughter home.

I can trace my desire to adopt back to high school, when I learned about China’s one-child policy and the resulting thousands of abandoned children. I knew then that someday, somehow, I would help.

I just didn’t know how. My husband also felt a tug on his heart regarding orphans while he was still in school. It amazes me that God was preparing our hearts, even when our immature minds were full of the frivolity of youth.

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REDEEMING LOVE | from page 10_____________________________________________________

Photo credit: Sara Davis Photography

We met our daughter on January 20, 2014. She was scared but brave. She didn’t even cry. After a good night’s rest and a big breakfast, she began to warm up to us. She started smiling and became more animated.

By day two, I knew that God was allowing her to open up to us.

China was a challenge for me. I do not embrace new experiences. The trip highlighted many of my weaknesses—air travel, crowded stores (you can’t imagine the craziness of a Chinese Walmart), lack of sleep, public toilets with a lack of proper sanitation such as you’d never find in America, being deplete of patience, and being “hangry” (that would be a combination of hungry and angry). But China had given us many new adoptive friends, and we began to bond with our sweet daughter.

We arrived home with our baby girl amidst a record-breaking ice storm, but our hearts melted as we hugged all three of our girls at the same time.

The first few months together were both challenging and amazing. God smoothed out the details in ways I could never have imagined. I watched with excitement as our new daughter learned to walk and to communicate. I watched as her sisters lovingly embraced her and tenderly helped with feedings and bedtimes. And I praised God for seamlessly making us into a family.

Our daughter will have her third birthday soon, and we will celebrate her being a part of our family for a year and a half. So much laughter and so many snuggles—but the biggest blessing is how God’s redeeming grace has become a very real part of her life. With her new grasp of the English language, she is always ready to pray over our meal. When she has a bad dream, she asks God for courage and comfort. This gift of Jesus that we were able to present to our daughter is more important than any material thing we could buy her.

And watching her little heart respond to that gift each day is an indescribable joy.

I would challenge you not to miss out on the power of God’s redeeming love. His mercies are new every morning, and yesterday’s confessed sins and worries are a distant memory, hung on the cross. One redeemed life can lead to another.

Are you allowing God’s redemptive power to penetrate your life? V Kristi Dews Dale is a wife and the mother of three amazing daughters. She holds a master’s degree in public health and is an adjunct business instructor at a local college in North Carolina. Kristi is passionate about encouraging others with Christ’s love.

Be Not Afraid Prison can be a fearful place where evil surrounds you on all sides. When I first arrived, I was afraid because I saw so much violence. Every day, vulgar language erupted into fights, stabbings, and killings.

My biggest fear, however, came from inside me. I was afraid I would never get out. The thought that I would die in prison haunted me. I often had nightmares and woke screaming for help.

On August 6, 2006, that fear almost became reality. My roommate and a gang member I didn’t know attacked and tried to kill me. As I lay bleeding, waiting for the ambulance to come, I cried out to the Lord, “Don’t let it end like this.” A helicopter took me to Tampa Bay General Hospital, where a group of surgeons operated on my right eye. They saved the eye, but the damage was so severe, I lost my vision in it.

A strange thing happened as I woke up on the stretcher outside the recovery room. I didn’t know where I was, and for a minute, I thought I was back at the prison. Then a man with a beard and glasses appeared. He knew my name, but I didn’t know who he was. “Be not afraid, Roy,” he said. “The Lord plans

by Roy A. Borges

to use you.” Then he was gone.

I called him back, and he appeared again. “What do you mean?” I asked.

He just smiled and disappeared. Was he an angel?

It’s possible. From that day forward, I haven’t been afraid, nor have I had anymore nightmares.

Those three words—be not afraid—are common in the Bible. Jesus used them many times. We are not called to live in fear. We are called to live in the freedom that faith brings.

One thing I have learned and will never forget is that the love of God frees me from the prison of fear.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18 niv).

The presence of God, who is love, casts out all fear! That’s why the psalmist could say, “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day” (Psalm 91:5 niv). He knew that God was with him, so there was no need to be afraid.

We can choose to look at life from either our point of view or from God’s. When we trade our fear for faith in God, we’re looking through God’s eyes.

Roy Borges writes about his life experiences from a prison cell in Florida. His stories have appeared in many Christian publications. Roy has won AMY Foundation awards in 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2007.

That’s the best view there is. He guarantees that He will work all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

There’s nothing to worry about.

God will carry us through all the dangers and fears of life, whether in prison or in the free world. He will work out every situation for good. Personally, I no longer fear not getting out of prison, because I love God and I know He loves me. I trust His love for me.

When the time is right, He will open the doors, and I will be free. In the meantime, I will continue to live in the freedom of His peace, trusting God to continue to use me right where I am. Nothing can be more rewarding than knowing God is using you.

Are you experiencing fear? Let God’s love into your heart and watch fear vanish. There’s no room for them both. Remember Psalm 118:6 niv: “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” V

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by Jacob Miller Terracina, Italy, there is a cliff that rises straight up against the western shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Smooth gray sandstone forms the base, becoming sharp and jagged toward the top. Directly below sits the Ristorante da Mario L’Ostricaro. Its stucco walls are white and chipped like chunks of stale bread. The patio area is speckled with red, blue, and yellow umbrellas that provide shade to dozens of faded plastic chairs.

Two parked cars wait in front of the restaurant, but no one is eating. There is no activity on the water, either. No waves today. Boats lie parked along the road on rustic silver trailers; old wooden boats, upside down on lengthy blue tarps, wait patiently for summer. Faint signs of busyness remain in this place, from maybe not too long ago. But it’s November, and the town of Terracina sits dormant, nestled deep in a late autumn chill, as apathetic toward the passing of time as it has been for a thousand years.

My friend Honza and I are talking as we enter the restaurant. At the sound of our English-speaking voices, the owner scurries around the corner, happy to be saved from boredom. His face turns downward as he notices our current state of ruggedness. Personally, I think Honza looks a tad worse than I, given the fact that he’s unshaven and wearing the same clothes he

was a week ago. Our faces tell of heavy stress mixed with an earnest sense of weariness.

The owner ushers us farther into the restaurant.

We sit in wooden church pews at tables accented by red paper tablecloths. The menu is absent of English.

Honza sighs and goes to find the restroom. I order water for 1.5 euros. On the bar, a massive television is playing a Serie A soccer game at max volume. The cook sees me watching and turns the television away toward the kitchen, a hint that if I want to see more of the five-year-old recorded game, then I had best order more than just water.

I pick number 18 off the menu. I look at the clock.

It’s 7:00 p.m. My hands are dry and cracking. There are scrapes, dried with blood. My legs are shaking, and I’m ready to go home.

Home. It comes to my mind like a hazy mist. For two weeks, I’ve avoided thinking about it. But I know I must. I push it away one last time and remember. *** I’d practically emptied my bank account for this adventure. It would be my last; I knew that. And I would tell no one about it. No Facebook or Twitter posts would mention my world-traveling experience this time. This adventure was personal, and it had taken me to the threshold that lies between risk and suicide.

Few, if any, acknowledge this threshold in their minds. The line between risk and suicide is often blurred. The adventurer approaches it with care and the conscious weighing of risk versus reward.

But for the heartbroken, the reward is never satisfying—it never heals the hurt, and it can’t be dutifully earned. I know this all too well. So we push risk beyond its own definition, and it blurs into a subconscious attempt at death.

To pay for this trip, I’d cashed my financialaid check and dumped my plastic-bottle piggy bank into one of those green, gobble-upyour-coins machines. I had saved countless coins from the time I was a valet driver in Chicago. My wife, a waitress, had also added to the coinage with the nickels and dimes of low-tipping patrons. That coin bank had been a sentimental part of our marriage. We’d called it our Hawaii Fund and had enjoyed watching it grow.

But I had taken the piggy bank to the grocery store coin monster. I’d dumped it in, watching years of collected coins fall through the tiny holes. I imagined that I did this with a fiery passion and justified anger, but the close onlooker would have seen me hesitate.

Wishing circumstances were different. Wishing I wasn’t going to Italy. Wishing…for the moment… for an unexpected end.

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AN ITALIAN FALL | from page 12_______________________________________________________ Then, four weeks before the trip, I had asked Honza to meet me in Rome. Without hesitation, he’d agreed. I have no doubt, he is my best friend. I know this because he stopped everything for me. He knew I needed a friend in this time, and the weight of that responsibility never fazed him. On a month’s notice, he’d put work and school on hold to go backpacking with a hurting friend.

And this morning, I’d grabbed coffee for us from a café in town, then pulled out a map and tried to orient myself with the surrounding area. “See that cliff over there?” I’d pointed beyond the roofs of the city.

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to climb that.”

“Whyyy?” Honza likes to use that extended and somewhat dumfounded voice when trying to convey his disapproval. It’s filled with just enough doubt to make one’s idea seem suddenly stupid.

“Because…” I gave him a sly wink and hoped my eyes twinkled with excitement and not the dread I felt inside. “I want to.” Convincing myself to do something dangerous is not usually a hard task, but this idea was beyond absurd, even for me. “I want to see what’s up there,” I reasoned.

“No,” he argued. “I don’t think it’s good idea.

How can you climb it? You don’t have any gear.”

Trying to sound convincing, I responded, “Eh, it shouldn’t be too hard. There’re plenty of holds and places to grab. I’ll check it out first; don’t worry.”

Honza knows when there’s no point in arguing with me. I’m stubborn when it comes to adventures

and the spontaneous. In January of 2010, there was a massive blizzard where we lived. I’d proceeded to build a jump off the roof and shoveled snow into a massive pile at the bottom for a nice plush landing.

Honza had tried to convince me it was a bad idea, but I handed him a camera, told him to stand over there to record the whole thing, and proceeded to climb to the top. I clicked into my ski bindings and launched myself off.

THE THOUGHT OF NOT BEING LOVED IS A SCARY THING. FOR ME, IT’S SCARIER THAN DEATH ITSELF. But that was measured risk. I knew what I was doing; I’d been snow skiing my whole life. Sure, I love the thrill of a risky jump, but I know the parameters, and there they did not equate to a high probability of death. This cliff, though, was different.

So we drove our midget car to the base of the cliff and parked in front of a little restaurant. The rock face towered above us, and I felt small. That was good.

It was what I wanted to feel. It was what I needed to feel. I put on my good climbing shoes, strapped a water bottle to my waist, and walked to the base.

A few months earlier, I’d flown to Hawaii. I had two tickets.

I’d bought them six months earlier for my wife, for our fifth anniversary. I’d foregone using the piggy bank though, simply because I loved looking at how many coins we had saved and dreaming of how much it would add up to one day. But I went to Hawaii alone. I never even printed the other ticket.

Jake Miller lives in Oregon and is a part of the traveling team with In His Wakes Ministry.

He is pursuing a masters of fine arts degree in creative writing. This fall, Jake will attend Bethel School of Ministry. Jake loves traveling the world and is always in search of the next great adventure. Follow Jake at wakeboardjake.wordpress.com.

The first thing I did when I got there was call SkyDive Hawaii. I booked a flight to 40,000 feet so I could jump out of a plane. There’d only been two skydiving companies to choose from. I’d selected the one with the lower rating—it had been responsible for a couple of deaths the year before.

Unfortunately, my parachute worked. I’d landed safely and breathed in the depression that was my constant companion. Since then, I’d taken off to seek out other risky options. Cliff diving offered free-fall moments that got my blood rushing. The ocean waves held me under when I crashed surfing. I felt alive in those moments. Moments where the chance of death would greet me with a handshake…but then continue walking by, never inviting me along.

I don’t believe in suicide. I believe in natural causes—a parachute not opening properly or a wave slapping my head against the reef or a foothold accidentally breaking away, causing me to tumble down a cliff. Accidental. That was the key.

It cannot be considered suicide if death was never the intention, can it? People take chances in extreme sports everyday.

I would do nothing out of the ordinary; in fact I’d promised myself I would try to stay alive, try to remain safe. I wouldn’t purposely forget to pull my parachute or let a wave hold me down. But if something happened that was out of my control…well…then it must have been meant to be. I could say God called my life to its end.

And now I was at this cliff in Italy. My hands were bleeding. Rock-sharp edges cut into my soft white skin, leaving little streaks of red on gray rocks as I ascended high above the ground. I hadn’t rockclimbed in six months. I used to climb all the time with my wife. It was one of our favorite hobbies, because no other sport required so much faith and dependence in your partner as rock-climbing.

Climbing partners literally have each other’s lives in their hands; they’re forced to trust one another since the same rope connects them.

But this wasn’t rock-climbing. I had no gear. No ropes. This wasn’t risk. This was suicide.

I had tried to stay safe in the midst of taking risks, hoping that it would cause me to care about living.

I’d thought coming face to face with the risk of death would make me appreciate life again…but the fact remained that, every day, I still had to come home.

The adrenaline would dissipate, the loneliness would return, and a newly familiar state of misery would pull me to sleep in a pool of tears.

Six months had passed. Six months since my wife chose another path. Many people thought, probably like you do now, that there must have been a reason.

That perhaps something I had done had caused her to leave. Friends, family, and people I didn’t even know whispered about us. Pastors asked to meet with me and then spent hours telling me to forgive her. continued on page 30

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HOPE PRISONER OF

by Joan Tyson

“Well, it’s a mixed bag,” my doctor explained. “Your CT scan is amazing. Your organs look great, and your blood stats are wonderful. But…your bone scan does not look good.”

These are not the words you want to hear from your oncologist. I looked from him to my dear friend Valerie (I always take a praying friend with me to my appointments) as he continued. “The medicine you have been on for the last three years is no longer working, but I have a new medicine that was FDA approved just three months ago, that I want you to try.”

As I took this in, God reminded me of an amazing fact: The medicine that I had been on for those three years had only been expected to work for three months. So I replied, “Do you mean that God loves me so much He kept me on a medicine that was supposed to work for three months, for three years, just so another medicine could be invented for me?”

My oncologist smiled. We all smiled.

“I need to pray right now,” I said. Everyone bowed their heads. “No, I need to hold your hands and pray,” I insisted. We all joined hands, and I prayed aloud, giving thanks to our Daddy God. In Zechariah 9:12 nkjv, the Lord says, “Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you.” We who believe in Jesus are, indeed, prisoners of hope. Hope holds us captive! We have hope no matter what we face in life.

In 2005, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I call cancer the “little c,” because Christ is the “big C.” It wasn’t easy, but God brought me through that “little c.” I could feel the power of prayer lifting me up and carrying me on. My friends in the body of Christ and I continually trusted that God is faithful and His Word is true.

I decided I would not let “little c” become my focus; instead I would focus on lifting up the “big C” so others could know the hope that I had. I was determined to pray with every doctor and nurse who touched me. God opened the door to pray with them, and I saw Him work in wonderful ways in the medical field. The place I did not want to go became the place where God used me greatly.

After eight chemo treatments and thirty-five back-to-back radiation treatments with no side effects, I hoped that He had healed me. Then came November 2011, and I awakened one morning barely able to walk. Thinking it was my sciatic nerve, I waited until January to see my doctor. She ordered an MRI and the news

was not good. So back to the oncologist I went, where I learned that the breast cancer had spread to my back. I had eleven more radiation treatments, and after that, the radiologist declared that my back was secure and normal. My friend and I stood with the doctor and gave thanks to the God of hope. The doctor called it a blessing.

Now, I’m going through another life trial. Isaiah 43 says that we all must go through trials. I cannot choose the trial, but I can choose how I will go through it. I choose hope. I am its prisoner forever because I know that hope has a name, and His name is Jesus. I choose joy because joy has a name, and His name is Jesus! I choose love because love has a name, and His name is Jesus. I choose to be light in the dark places of life because I know that my God will never leave me or forsake me. I choose boldness to pray with doctors and nurses and patients so that others can know the hope that I have. With Jesus as my hope, I am in a permanent win-win situation.

Richard Lovelace wrote, “Stone walls do not a prison make.” Every one of us has a choice today—we can be prisoners of defeat, despair, and dread, or we can choose to be the prisoners of hope that He has called us to be.

Will you choose hope? Will you choose Jesus? He has called us to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). We are the only ones who can shine the light to those lives in whatever part of the world He has placed us. Here is my prayer: Lord, help us to shine brightly this day, no matter where we are or what the day holds. Help us to shine so the world will see the hope within us and know that You, Jesus, are our only hope and theirs! May we, with joy, be Your prisoners of hope, knowing that You alone can set us free and give us life—a life that begins the moment we receive You as our Lord and Savior. May we truly believe!

May we truly receive Your life and hope. It can only be found in You, this day and every day! We love You, Lord Jesus, and we pray this in Your precious, glorious name. Amen. V Joan Tyson lives in Virginia, and is an active member of her church.

Joan loves to sing and worship, and she shares the Word of God on the beach.

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A PERSISTENT GOD This is my life story. I don’t know why, but I feel an urgency to write it down and send it to your publication. This is a first for me. I must warn whoever reads this—you may want to take a Tylenol, as my life story is certain to bring on a headache!

In the beginning, life was good. Things changed, however, at the age of eight, when my stepdad came into the picture. Although there are many fitting names that I would have liked to call my stepdad at one time or another, I’ll just stick to his given name, Roy. Roy wasn’t a very nice person. He was physically abusive at times and verbally abusive all the time. This may sound crazy, but the physical abuse wasn’t as bad as the verbal. I was a tough kid and could heal from the physical pain; the verbal abuse damaged me for a long time. I couldn’t get away from the hateful things Roy had spoken into my life.

I can still remember our first time playing football together. He laughed at my feeble attempts at throwing, catching, and kicking a football. “You should go put on a dress and go play with dolls, you little sissy! You catch like a sissy, kick like a sissy, and you throw like one, too!” And that was that. He walked off laughing as I sat there and cried.

No matter what it was, I was never good enough, strong enough, smart enough, or fast enough.

According to Roy, I was a complete failure; a waste of time and space. He told my mom she should have had an abortion instead of having me.

I tried to prove him wrong many times, but I always failed. Even when I gave something my all, I still

messed up. I soon gave up trying and just accepted Roy’s words as truth. He must be right; I must be a failure.

Roy often looked for ways to get me out of his hair, even when it meant sending me to church. One day when I was ten years old, an old bus operated by a couple in their eighties came into our neighborhood to pick up kids to take them to Sunday School. Seeing a great opportunity to get rid of me for a few hours, Roy put me on the bus.

When we arrived at Sunday School, we were escorted to our classrooms according to age. My teacher looked a lot like Roy Clark from the television show Hee Haw. At the time, I really liked that show and began to loosen up a bit. The Roy Clark lookalike showed us a big bag of coins. He told us that each Sunday, he would read from the Bible, and then the following Sunday, he would ask questions about what we had read. He explained that each question we answered correctly was worth a certain amount of money.

This got my attention, because my family wasn’t too well off. I listened closely to what the teacher read.

I even asked for a Bible so I could study at home. The first Sunday I made $16! The teacher was amazed.

Each week, I studied and answered questions. I brought home so much money, my stepfather accused me of stealing from the church. Finally, the teacher began to pay me $10 just to keep my hand down so other kids could have a chance to answer.

Even though things were bad at home, I could always look forward to my Sunday School class. They were the best hours of my whole week. Of course, I really liked making money, but I also enjoyed all the Bible stories. The Roy Clark look-alike really made the whole experience enjoyable.

But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. When I turned eleven, I was put into a class for older kids. And just like that, bye-bye money and bye-bye cool Sunday School teacher. I was very disappointed.

I did make a friend in this new class, however. Since I didn’t have many friends at the time, this was a nice addition. The only problem was, this kid was totally anti-Christ. He hated even the mention of Jesus’s name. He was there only because he had to be.

I found myself stuck in the middle. On the one hand, I liked hearing about Jesus and all the other people in the Bible. On the other, I really liked this kid.

It was nice having a friend. I would start out listening to the preacher, but then I’d get caught up with this kid, making fun and playing around. He told me these people were just there to brainwash me. I was torn.

A couple of weeks after meeting this guy, a woman preacher came to our church. She was a real hellfireand-brimstone preacher, if you know what I mean.

by Chris B.

HE IS HOLY; HE IS LOVE. HE IS JUST AND MERCIFUL AND FULL OF GRACE. BUT TO ME, MORE THAN ANYTHING, HE IS PERSISTENT. She yelled and cried and told us we shouldn’t smoke or do other things to defile our bodies. She seemed so serious and genuine about what she was saying, but my anti-Christ buddy was laughing the whole time.

I laughed right along with him, even though I was halfheartedly believing what she said.

After the service, my friend and I went to the bus to be taken home. Wouldn’t you know it, there was the woman who had just been preaching to us about not defiling our bodies—and what was she doing? She had lit up a cigarette in the church parking lot and was hanging all over some man who wasn’t her husband.

My buddy began jumping up and down in the bus, yelling, “See! I told you it was all a bunch of crap!

Look, she ain’t even married, and she’s practically jumping that guy’s bones in the church parking lot.

And she’s smoking!”

In my young, eleven-year-old mind, I was thinking the same thing. How could I have been so dumb to almost have fallen for this load of crap? And just like that, my Jesus days were over. I refused to go back to church after that incident.

Life went on. I made a few new friends, compliments of my anti-Christ buddy, but they were all just like me…miserable! They, too, had messed-up families in one way or another. Pretty soon, they introduced me to cigarettes, weed, and alcohol. To pay for my new habits, I started stealing.

By the age of sixteen, I’d quit school and moved in with one of my so-called best friends. It was in his home that I was introduced to heavy drugs of all kinds.

More than once, I almost died from an overdose. You would think these near-death experiences would wake me up, but they didn’t.

For years I continued this cycle. One day my boss, who’d noticed I was having trouble staying awake on the forklift, introduced me to crystal meth. One hit, and I was addicted. I simply couldn’t function without it, even though I could clearly see the physical toll the stuff was taking on my body. I looked like death, and I felt like death. In less than six months, I went from 180 continued on page 20

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F R U M the F R U S AT THE END OF Light THE TUNNEL

by Kristi Overton Johnson Murf the Surf. At seventy-eight years young, this man lives with more passion and purpose than anyone I’ve ever met. When Murf walks into a room, people take notice, from the least to the greatest.

His charismatic personality naturally charges the atmosphere, drawing in and holding captive those in his path.

I was immediately drawn to Murf the Surf when I met him a year ago. We share a common love for water sports that has resulted for both of us in Hall of Fame titles (his in surfing; mine in water skiing). We also share a love for Christ and a heart for prisoners.

But it wasn’t Murf’s exciting storytelling ability, his incredible life journey, his fame and success, the Hollywood movies produced in his honor, or his handsome charm that drew me in. It was his heart.

Murf the Surf is the real deal. A true champion.

He’s a man of integrity and humility. A selfless man whose compassion for others leads him to action.

He’s a man who travels the world, sacrificing his time and resources in order to tell others about the Man who changed his life.

I entered prison ministry in 2013, sharing how God was moving in the hearts of inmates and how they were responding to the gospel. People would ask skeptically, “Do you really think those inmates have given their lives to Christ? Do you actually believe their response is more than just a grasp at something to get them through their incarceration? You really think they can change and that they will continue in Christ once they’re released?”

I can reply with confidence that, yes, I do think people can change. I don’t know if every inmate will continue in the faith, just as I don’t know if every person who responds to the gospel in a church will hold fast to it. But I do know that some, like Murf, will.

Murf the Surf is living proof of the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. He is a walking testimony of how God can take the most hardened, selfish, prideful criminal and transform his life until there is absolutely no trace of the old man anywhere to be found.

When I stand before a group of inmates, sharing the hope within me, I picture Murf. I envision him as he once was—a desperate man in a gray jumpsuit, sitting in the last row of inmates, filled to the brim with hopelessness and pride, and totally skeptical of the message I am sharing. I think to myself, “There’s a Murf out there. There’s a man or a woman who’s getting ready to grab hold of this message for the first time and be radically changed by the love and grace of God. There’s someone who’s ready to embark on an adventure with God and be used by Him to change the world!” And then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I bring it. Murf’s life motivates me to keep going into prisons, to keep telling, and to keep loving.

Jack Roland Murphy wasn’t always a man of character. He was a character, all right, but not a man of character. There’s a difference, and he’ll be the first to tell you that. Recently, Murf and I ministered together at the Citrus County Detention Center (CCDC) in Lecanto, Florida. With incredible power

and passion, he brought God’s message of hope to hundreds of inmates. He has been bringing this same message for thirty years in over 2500 prisons worldwide.

Why would a man go back to a place that nearly killed him? Why would someone who had been released run back to the prison gates and ask to be let back in? To Jack Murphy, it’s simple. There are hundreds of thousands of men and women drowning in a sea of hopelessness, being beaten down by shame and despair, anger, bitterness, and fear. Those people, Murf will tell you, need to know there is a better way. They need to know there is hope, and that hope’s name is Jesus.

Murf’s message of hope to the inmates of CCDC began something like this: “You know those sayings, ‘once a con, always a con,’ and the infamous ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’? Well, let me tell you something—those sayings are nonsense.

One hundred percent lies. I was a con once; one of the best.”

Murf related bits and pieces of his life of crime to his audience as they sat in tattered jumpsuits of various colors. “In 1964, my partner and I pulled off what was dubbed the ‘jewel robbery of the century.’

We stole the JP Morgan jewel collection, which included the Star of India, the largest star sapphire in the world, and twenty-seven other precious gems, straight from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. We scaled the 125-foot high wall overlooking west Central Park, slid down a thin rope into the gem room, and took everything they had! The crime caught the attention of newspapers around the world. Even Hollywood captured the scene back in a 1975 movie called Murf the Surf. And another movie is in the works.

“I served three years in the infamous New York City Tombs and Rikers Island prison for that little rendezvous. And I left that place a changed man. A hard man. In the years following my release, I slipped deeper into a life of crime, racking felony charges across the United States, including a couple of murder charges. In the end, I was sentenced to serve two life sentences plus twenty years.

I spent twenty-one years in maximum security prisons, the worst of the worst.

I know what it’s like to be sitting where you are.”

With a release date of 2244, it certainly seemed

WHAT WAS I HOLDING ON TO? THIS WASN’T LIFE. THIS WAS MADNESS.

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Photo Credit: AP Press

alking Dead man w ck and forth in my cell

e, t, I’d pace ba like a hurrican Late at nigh of lost hope, e er on th m de as W ud e. lo m with the inside of ss ne w llo ho the screaming in emptiness? here could fill this at th ng hi chased everyw yt an prison, I had ose, of rp e id pu ts d ou On the r meaning an fo s, es in pp al ha I’d searched looking for re ade life tick. m at d th as w it ung man. I ha for whatever music as a yo d t an bu s, … ic ily et m hl , travel, fa in school, at n in business In this Jan. 28, 1968 file photo, Jack “Murf the Surf” is escorted to the Miami Beach Police Station io ct fa tis sa r looked fo by detectives in Miami Beach, Fla., after he was arrested with three other men for armed robbery. ned. uld drown the void remai s, I found I co ow ad sh ls; e th ies, and thril Slipping into s, booze, part ug dr would you ever want to give all this ith that, statistically speaking, Murf’s life as a free man w s the emptines porary. was just tem up?’ Shaking his head, he walked away. was over. That old dog wouldn’t be learning new e of crime. but everything t and adventur en m te ci ex e “I realized he wasn’t wrong. What tricks anytime soon; not in this lifetime. But one day, ing chase— Next, it was th other frustrat an e m ger ca be while sitting in a place similar to where we sat that was I holding on to? This wasn’t life. This to put my fin But that also r being able w ve ne no of nd A n . io day, something happened in Murf’s heart. It was was madness. Maybe I should check out missing the frustrat was that was life it y t m ll ha w pu tly to changed…changed by a Man named Jesus. And it the chapel and see what this Jesus thing on exac ill trying searching, st in prison, still is this Man that Murf passionately and unashamedly was about. It probably wouldn’t work for terrifying. as w t I realized ha w , to survive; no er th ge to declares to anyone who will listen. me, but what did I have to lose? rd we strived ha w ho whenever r te No mat tried to act; e w ol “For years, I had heard about God’s love,” Murf “I started my journey with God with co or ugh nd me or matter how to the eyes of the men arou says. “But I didn’t want any part of it. I was my own this simple prayer, ‘Help me, God. If You no to in y own eyes, I would look mirror into m e st th ju l man—a tough guy, and I didn’t need anybody. I was are real, then please help me. I need serious to al in e er ed t! We w when I look r lights were ou ou e of Th t a mover and a shaker, both outside of prison and help.’ I believe with all my heart that at e! ou m g ho in one was good com g in th no s, es as ere w , sadn inside. I was Murf the Surf. A man who had enjoyed that moment, God heard my prayer. You dead men. Th ir, depression empty. Despa e er back from w ed respect and success in every world I had ever entered. know, if someone is drowning in a lake, they ey ar th st ; s eyes d lonelines an , ar fe , ss I wasn’t about to give that up. wouldn’t need to form elaborate words to hate, bitterne ound. ant to be “One day, a visiting friend said to me, ‘Murf, get someone to respond to their cry. They the faces all ar lently screamed, “I don’t w si I “Hey, man,” you need to get into the programs—especially the would just yell out, ‘Help! Help!’ And people ing zombies!” e os th the yard, play of e on chapel—because if nothing changes…well… would come running. Why would God be any ore miles on s. m ok g bo in e nn or ru ading m I began nothing changes, and, pal, you need some serious different? st d handball, re ju an as ll w ba I et s, sk rt more ba d best effo an s r changes in your life and situation.’

“When God hears one of His children an he pl ot y lm men, an In spite of al alking dead w e ily os “‘No way, man. I’m just not ready to give it all up,’ crying for help, He comes. Jonah cried out from da th y m of ugh another one aggering thro I responded. the belly of the whale, and God answered him. yard dog, sw mean old junk “‘Give up what?’ my friend asked.

When I cried out, ‘God, help me,’ He answered struggle. *** rist, and that “‘My life, the action, the world I rock in.’ my prayer, too.

Murf met Ch en th nd 1989 A e: ot “We stood there, looking down the long, crowded, “One by one, He began sending people from Murf’s Editor’s N is an excerpt is more Th n ar d. le le n fil gray hallway of the Florida State Prison. Yesterday’s into my life to teach me more about Him. But void was ney. You ca ur Jo e th r fo els y, Jew visiting www. men. Forgotten men, hardened criminals of every you know what? I sent them away. Funny how autobiograph y Ministries by ph ur M en tt Ki d about Jack an sort, prison guards, tension, danger, and a door at we call out to God for help, and then when He true ntures.org. ve ad ne filled and find hi ns so the end of the hall leading to death row. This was answers our prayers, we don’t recognize His your own void you ve t ha ee to m e d lik an d If you’ answer you ill w my world. e hand in our lives. That was me. I pushed people H s. e su Je exampl of a life, call out to d like to see an u’ yo If “My friend looked up and down the hall and at away and kept going as I’d always done. e. ar u right where yo 5. the crowd and calmly said, ‘I get it, Murphy. Why ion, go to page continued on page 18 prayer of salvat

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“But God didn’t give up. A while later, I was sitting in the back of the crowd at a special event being held for inmates. I heard a superstar athlete talk about God. He shared how his life had been turned over to a new manager, someone who had his back and who was giving him victory. As a sport’s buff, a business man of sorts, and an accomplished musician, I knew what it meant to have a manager. I also knew how important it was to have a manager who was on your side and who wouldn’t fail you.

“What the speaker said next pierced my hard heart: ‘If the best your life’s manager has been able to offer you so far is a prison jumpsuit, then you need a new manager.’

“As I looked at my life, I realized with sudden clarity the truth: I needed a new manager. In the past I’d had friends, teachers, coaches, agents, attorneys, and others who helped manage my life. There’d been success, money, women, drugs, parties, travel, toys, and lots of action—but every plan or dream had fallen short. That day, in that end-of-the-line

Photo Albert Coya, Miami Herald Staff

MURF THE SURF | from page 17________________________________________________________ situation, I was ready for a new life. I asked Jesus to come into my heart, to forgive me of the mistakes I’d made and the pain I had caused, and to be the manager of my life. It was a total surrender. No longer did I want to be in control; I had only made a mess of things. God could take my life and use it however He saw fit.”

And use it, God has. As Murf allowed God access to his heart and mind, God went to work. There was such a radical change in Murf’s life that people in high places began to take notice. There was no denying that this once riot leader had become a peacemaker, a humble servant who was radically influencing the lives of other inmates. Murf’s life

by Jack R. was so marked with change that his life sentences Murphy and even his parole were removed. This man A brother who’d had a release date of 2244 walked out of in the join t once ask are you— ed me, “W some kind prison in 1986— 259 years ahead of schedule! hat of religiou “Nope, n s dude?” ot a cha When a reporter asked him what he was going nce, pal.” used to rep I replied. to do with his life, Murf replied, “I’m going to do “I managem resent trouble, bu ent a whil t I chan ged e back. To God’s business.” an ex-con day, I rep vict who resent was Religious people ca labeled an outla w. revolution ll ary, and th ed Him a rad ical ey put up have Him the mone busted. O y to ne Him out.

Just like th of His homeboys ra tted ey arreste busted this d all of u innocent yo s, they to jail, wh ung Man. ere they b eat Him be He was taken They foun yond reco d Him guil gnition ty o then they executed H f stuff He never did, . and im His mothe on death ro r an w later, some d hundreds of peop in front of le. Three d women w ays ent to the Him respe cemetery ct, but His to pay tomb was death cou empty! No ld h t even The whole old down this Ma n world me asures tim I represent. and after e from be His fore no religiou life! So you see, m yb s dude. I’m just the on rother, I’m here to ho ok you up e who’s co wit me plead you r case and h the only Man who can set you fre e.”

The Gosp e Accordin l g to Murf

IT’S A TERRIBLE CYCLE, BUT IT CAN BE BROKEN. AND IT STARTS WITH A CHOICE.

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Photo Albert Coya, Miami Herald Staff

Left: Murf hits the waves for the first time in Miami after serving two years in Rikers Island Prison in New York for his infamous jewel heist. Murf is in the Surfing Hall of Fame for his surfing skills and pioneering of the sport on the east coast.

Right: Tim and Kristi Johnson with Murf after the Victorious Living photo shoot. Center right: Murf ministering at Gadsen Prison. Far right: Jack Murphy poses for photographer, Joey Meddock.

It was a promise he has been faithful to keep. Murf will tell you, he hates jails and prisons. He hates everything about them. But he goes back, time and time again, all over the world. Why? He has nothing to gain. There’s no money or fame. But Murf’s not concerned about what he can gain; it’s about what he can give. And, boy, does he have something to give— the very thing people of all walks of life need. Hope.

“I’m not doing anything new. It’s just my turn to join the awesome army of the cross who visit Jesus when they visit the least of those, His brothers and sisters in prison. I want people to find life. They need to know there is hope for a better life. People can change, even a con. By God’s grace, I changed. Victory in life comes from a person deciding

FROM THE LOSERS’ CIRCLE TO THE WINNERS’ TROPHY ROOM OF LIFE IS JUST A MATTER OF CHOICES.

to make one right choice after another. It’s not always easy, but with God’s help, it can be done.

“These men and women need to know that they don’t have to be a statistic. Studies show that 70 percent of inmates will return to prison within three years of their release. Studies also show that 70 percent of inmates’ kids will be incarcerated in their lifetime. It’s a terrible cycle, but it can be broken. And it starts with a choice.

“Like rungs in a ladder or steps on a stairway, choices can carry you down into the darkness of defeat and failure, or they can lift you upward into the light of victory, joy, success, respect, love, and adventure. My life is undeniable evidence that even when the lights go out at the end of the tunnel; when everything shuts down and living or dying doesn’t make any difference; when all that keeps you staggering and swaggering from day to day is hate, pride, and all of the dope and booze you can get your hands on, that there at the end of the line, at the bottom of the pit, it isn’t too late!

“All it takes is one choice at a time to change the course and quality of your life. Anyone can be a winner or a loser; champion or chump. From the losers’ circle

to the winners’ trophy room of life is just a matter of choices. The choice is yours.”

I’m so thankful for Murf’s choice. It has made not only a difference in hundreds of thousands of lives around the world, but in my life as well. His life is a constant reminder that if a heart is willing, God can use it. No matter whose life it is.

What will your choice be? V

I’ve Got Your Back.

Love, God Relax My child, I’ve got it! I’ve got you! I know your heart’s desires and passions. I hear your cries and know your fear and pain. Take refuge in Me. Hide yourself in Me, and you’ll find protection from every storm that rages. In Me, you will find hope, provision, protection, worth, peace, and joy.

There is nothing too hard for Me. Whatever your concern, I’ve got it! There’s nothing too big or too small for Me to handle. I want to handle it, so give it to Me. Take refuge in My arms. Intertwine yourself with Me and with My Word, and you’ll be strong. No weapon forged against you will prosper. No scheme of man will overtake you.

You are not alone in your journey; I am with you. I hold you up with My righteous right hand, and I will not let you go.

Exchange your burdens for My peace. Give Me your every care, for I care for you. Trust Me; you don’t have to be afraid or worry. You don’t have to manipulate people or circumstances. Just lean on Me. I’ll be your strength. I’ll be your power.

I’ll give you wisdom and peace and the stamina to endure. I’ll work all things out for your good. Trust Me.

Whatever you need, I already have it prepared. It’s on the way.

I’ll lead you to it and it to you.

Don’t look at the obstacle that lies before you. Look only at Me. I have already overcome this world and its obstacles.

Greater am I in you than he who is in this world.

I’m not absent. I’m not idle. I’m not angry. I’m always at work. You can’t always see Me, but you can always trust that I have your back. I am making a way where there seems to be no way. V

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A PERSISTENT GOD | from page 15____________________________________________________ pounds to less than 130. I looked like a skeleton on my 5-foot-10-inch frame.

Luckily, my boss and I got fired for stealing at work. I say luckily, because that’s what saved me. I became so sick that I was actually bedridden. I ended up moving back in with my parents, who helped me regain my health.

Slowly I began to feel better, although I still had lingering effects from my previous drug use. My nerves were shot, my lungs were permanently damaged, and my teeth were a mess.

With a bit of renewed health, I landed a lawnservice job. Fortunately, my new boss didn’t seem concerned about my drug history. I had hit the jackpot, I thought. Then one day I walked up to find him smoking something in a can. It turned out to be crack cocaine. You would think that after all I had been through, I would have had better sense than to even get near the stuff. But I didn’t. Like my stepdad had said, I was as dumb as they come.

I became hooked in no time, sucking the stuff down like a Hoover vacuum cleaner! I singlehandedly helped my boss run his business into the ground. Between the two of us, we had an over $2,000 a week habit.

Thank God, I was single and had no children. That stuff will make you sell your kids for just a little hit!

It took a near-death experience that scared the living daylights out of me before I quit cold turkey and tried to straighten out my life.

Around my twenty-fifth birthday, I moved in with my girlfriend. We lived together in her parents’ house for six years. Many times, they urged her to get rid of my sorry butt, yet she always stood up for me. She must

have loved me dearly to go through all she did on my account. We had two children together, but in the end, she took her parents’ advice and kicked me out.

There she went, with my two sons, right out of my life. I can’t say I blame her.

Being with her and her family was one of the few times that I have felt loved. And I truly loved her and my kids. I still do; I just didn’t know how to receive their love or show it, and I ran those relationships right into the dirt.

I returned to my parents’ home. While there, I did anything I could to not be sober. I just wanted to escape, to forget about my pain and my life. My constant drunken state prevented me from getting a permanent job. So I stole and worked odd jobs around the neighborhood for people that I now assume felt sorry for me. This went on until I was thirty-one, when I made a mistake that I couldn’t escape.

I’d met a girl who was a mutual friend of my previous girlfriend. She and I often got high together.

One night, tired of always paying for our drug habit, I told her it was time for her to return the favor, if you know what I mean. After all, I thought she liked me.

In no uncertain terms, she made it perfectly clear that “that” was not happening, to which she added a few rude comments. Before I knew it, I snapped and forced her to have sex with me. She went to the police, and I ended up in prison. And it was there that I eventually found life. I am currently serving the remainder of my fifteen-year sentence.

As I look back over my life, I can see clearly God’s faithful attempts to intervene and get my attention so that He could draw me to Himself. As a child, there

was the elderly couple who picked me up for Sunday School and the Roy Clark look-alike who poured Christ’s love and the Word into my life. During the years when I was destroying myself with drugs and alcohol, God had sent other people to tell me about Him. Even my girlfriend’s parents had tried to help me and prayed for me to see the light.

But what did I do? Well, I’d told them all where they could take their beliefs and their Jesus, and stick ’em. I just wouldn’t receive what they were saying. If Jesus loved me, then why was my life such a

Lessons from Chris

by Kristi Overton Johnson

When our writing team received inmate Chris B.’s letter, they were so blessed.

Our prison correspondence director, Linda, called me right away. “Kristi, you have to read this letter we just received. It’s a long one, but boy, is it something!” She made a copy of his letter and sent it to me. (You can read Chris’s story beginning on page 15.)

I was immediately put at ease by Chris’s sense of humor and openness.

Eighteen pages later, I sat with a big smile on my face and could only say one thing—wow! Chris’s story not only touched my heart, but it reminded me of some very important truths we must not forget as we represent Jesus to those around us.

• BE PERSISTENT. All around us are people who need to know the love of God. If we don’t tell them, who will? The persistent witness of people (for instance, inmate Scott), is what ultimately led Chris to Christ. Being persistent doesn’t mean we get in someone’s face or beat them over the head with a Bible. Rather, it means we consistently and humbly love people to God with our words and actions. Let Chris’s story be a reminder to never give up on people, no matter where they tell you to stick your Jesus. Your persistent love will reap a harvest.

• BE CREATIVE. I love the creativity of Chris’s Sunday School teacher. The Roy Clark look-alike used games as motivation to get young children to dive

into the Word of God. And it worked. His creative mind made the class fun and exciting, and as a result, his young students read the Bible. Right about now, someone is probably saying, “Paying a kid money to read the Bible?

Now, that is just terrible! They should read it on their own.” I don’t think the source of the motivation really matters. What matters is that the Word of God was planted in Chris’s heart and mind. And you know what? The Word of God will never come back void.

• BE PURE. When we hold ourselves out as believers, we must remember that we represent Christ at all times. How we speak and act projects either a positive or negative image about Christianity into people’s minds. Believe me—people are always watching! My heart broke when I read how the woman preacher’s double standard caused Chris to reject Christianity. He refused to set foot in a church again due to her hypocrisy. Heaven forbid, our words or actions become a stumbling block to others knowing Christ.

• BE WILLING. Sometimes the little things in life make the biggest difference.

For Chris, an old church bus driven by an elderly couple and a willing Sunday School teacher who provided a safe haven of love, encouragement, and hope are what made the difference. As Chris said, those were the best hours of his week. That couple, well into their eighties, could have easily used their retirement card and refused to serve in this capacity. But they

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A PERSISTENT GOD | from page 20____________________________________________________ mess? If He loved me, why had He allowed me to have a stepdad who treated me so badly? Over and over again, I pushed God and His people away. Yet they continued to tell me that they loved me and that Jesus loved me. They were persistent.

Even when I got to prison, people kept telling me that I needed Jesus in my life! One day, about a year after my incarceration, an inmate came up to me on the recreation yard and said, “Jesus told me to tell you that He loves you. Even after all you have done and been through, He loves you.” He smiled and walked away.

His name was Scott.

Scott began to regularly remind me of God’s love, to give me Bible tracts, and to quote scripture to me. It seemed like he was everywhere!

He even got moved to my dorm. And then, he was transferred to another camp the same day I was transferred there.

It was too much to be coincidence. Scott was certain God had put him in my life to help me. I was beginning to think he was right.

At first, I just threw those

tracts away and ignored his words, but eventually, I started to listen. By this time, I had been in prison for almost two years. I was completely sober and able to think without the interference of a drug-induced haze.

With this new clarity of mind, I began to look back on my life. I felt terrible for all that I had done and for the hurt that I had caused so many.

Scott got me a Bible. I began to read it, halfheartedly at first, but more seriously as time went on. Soon it seemed like all the tracts and scriptures were jumping off the page and speaking straight to my heart. One tract finally hit home. It had a sinner’s prayer on the back. The next thing I knew, I was asking God for forgiveness and asking Him to come into my heart.

That was in 2008.

Since then, I have read the Bible cover to cover five times, allowing its words to penetrate my heart.

There are a lot of things I still don’t understand in the Bible, but I’m learning. I’m also still trying to overcome certain struggles, like cussing. But one thing is for sure—I’m not cussing nearly as much as I used to! It’s a process, but I’m becoming a little more like Christ each day.

In the past few years, I’ve seen God work many miracles. Perhaps most amazing is that my stepdad and I got things straight prior to his death four years ago. Shortly before he died, he told me in a letter that he was sorry for the way he had treated me. With God’s help, I forgave him. Another miracle is that my mom and I are super close now. She got saved shortly after I did. She is now remarried to a very cool guy who actually likes me, even with my past. My girlfriend got married a couple of years ago to a man who is

didn’t. The Sunday School teacher could have come up with an excuse or two to stay cozily in his bed each Sunday morning. But he didn’t. They were all willing to serve, and their willingness helped lay a foundation of faith that Chris was later able to build upon.

Chris’s story also reminded me of some important ways we can encourage ourselves and others as believers.

• LOOK TO GOD, NOT MAN. We can’t let Christians who aren’t walking the walk keep us from knowing the One who created us and truly loves and cares for us. Christians aren’t perfect. We make mistakes. We mustn’t let someone else’s weak moment or hypocrisy cause us to reject the love and hope of God. • RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE. Everything we’ve ever searched or hoped for is found in one place; one person—Jesus Christ. Hope, acceptance, love, worth, peace, joy, healing, sound mind, rest, wisdom, eternal life…it’s all in Him. It’s time to quit running and to lay down our anger and disappointments and questions. As Chris said, life could be so much different if we’d listen and receive God’s gift of forgiveness and love.

• SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GODLY PEOPLE. Because of poor friend choices and his desire to be accepted, Chris’s life quickly went down a path of destruction. We become like those we hang around. Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

loving and taking care of my two sons. I am thankful.

I have been locked up now for eight years and some change, and I’m approaching my forty-first birthday. I have been sober the whole time, and I have no intention of ever getting high again. Turns out, I’m now one of those pesky people who will tell you that you need Jesus in your life. Never in a million years would I have thought that would happen!

I’ve learned much over the years. But the main thing that I have learned is that God is persistent. I agree—He is holy; He is love. He is just and merciful and full of grace. But to me, more than anything, He is persistent.

God never gives up on us, His children, and He doesn’t quit pursuing us. When everyone else has thrown in the towel, God hasn’t even begun to break a sweat! He is in our lives until the end.

I am so thankful that God didn’t give up on me. He was always right by my side. I just didn’t pay Him or the ones He sent me any mind. I wish I had, as I know my life would have been quite different. Nonetheless, I trust that God will take my past and pain and work it all out for good. He can still use my life for His glory.

I encourage anyone reading this story to stop running from God and instead, run to Him. In Him, you’ll find everything you need and everything you’ve been searching for. In Him, you’ll find life.

Your brother in Christ, Chris V Chris is an inmate in a Florida prison.

Thank you, Chris, for graciously sharing your life story.

• LISTEN ONLY TO TRUTH. Satan’s purposes in this world are to steal, kill, and destroy. To carry out his plan, he often uses people. In Chris’s case, he used an unstable stepdad to speak destructive words over Chris’s life. These negative words became the foundation upon which Chris built his life. In his mind, he was always a failure and worthless. Knowing God’s truth is the only way to overcome the enemy’s lies.

• NEVER THINK IT’S TOO LATE. With a fifteen-year prison sentence, Chris could have easily lost all hope. With his past choices, he could have also thought he was too far gone for a relationship with God. But he didn’t.

In the depths of a prison, Chris found life. You’re never too far gone to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. His arms are wide open. His heart is full of love and forgiveness. Take Chris’s advice and stop running. Stop fighting. Stop doubting. And receive the love of God. As long as you’re alive, it’s not too late! V

Kristi Overton Johnson, former world champion water-skier, is the founder of In His Wakes Ministry, KOJ Ministries, and publisher of Victorious Living magazine. She resides in Florida with her husband, Tim, and their three children.

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FREE

From Fred by Tracy Stewart

I was five years old when my mother brought Fred into our home. He made a great first impression. He was courteous to us and to our mother. He accepted her ready-made family. (Four kids that were not his, and he was still interested? Wow!) He had a job and was an ex-marine. He was young, handsome, healthy, and in great shape from the military.

Well…I can see why she’d be attracted to him. He played the game and won her over. Before we knew it, they were married.

Fred played nice when my mother was around, but as soon as she was at work, he showed his true colors. He drank, played his albums really loud, and used his military training to command us. He expected us to respond in kind, right down to white-glove inspections. We tried hard, but we seldom met his expectations. His punishments never matched the crime. They were harsh and drawn out, full of pain and humiliation…and they brought him great pleasure.

I grew to hate Fred. I fantasized about ways to remove him from our lives. At times, I visualized myself killing him. It was not a fun pastime; it was just my way of coping and doing something about my situation. I knew I’d never do the horrible things I imagined, but I sure wished someone else would. I begged God to free us.

In my eyes, I was innocent—a victim who had the right to hate someone so cruel and violent. So, I hated. I grew up hating his face, his smell, his voice. I hated everything about Fred.

And then I was introduced to Jesus—Jesus, who loved me even though I wasn’t perfect. Jesus, who loved me even though I hated Fred. Even though I still struggled with so many fears and anger and other baggage leftover from that childhood. And I asked Jesus to come into my heart.

I thought my days of being held captive mentally and emotionally by my abusive stepfather would be over the day I became a Christian. Boy, was I wrong.

Even after I married my loving husband, after I learned and experienced the love of my heavenly Father and became heavily involved in our church, I still felt unsettled. I constantly wrestled with fear and guilt.

As I became a mom, my fears increased. I was terrified that I would mimic my childhood experiences; that I would hurt my child. I knew statistically that most people turn out like those who raised them. I did

not want to be that person. I did not want to be Fred.

I was stuck in a nightmare.

I knew the Bible instructed me to forgive my enemies…even Fred. As a believer, I had taken deliberate steps to willfully forgive Fred. I’d spoken the words, and I’d meant them, but my emotions did not follow suit. My husband suggested I seek counsel, but I resisted. I was embarrassed. Where would I begin? What would I say? The counselor would be a total stranger, so I’d have to start from scratch. I was exhausted before I even began!

I decided I should continue dealing with the issue on my own. After all, I’d done nothing abusive toward my child yet. But that fear just wouldn’t go away. I needed freedom. I wanted to be free from Fred, once and for all. It had always been my dream but never my reality. I finally agreed to see a counselor. I felt a stirring deep within, an inexplicable sense that something was about to break. I feared I wouldn’t be able to control it.

I met with a counselor from our church and briefly recounted my childhood and my experiences with Fred. I admitted I was afraid I’d become like him. The counselor asked a few prompting questions, did a lot of listening…and then we were done. I had some processing to do.

That evening Dan and I attended a leaders’ meeting at the church. It was a time of reflection and prayer. The pastor spoke scripture over us to help create individual thought processes and prayer.

I began to cry so hard I was unable to speak, not even to my husband. He became my voice and guide, walking me forward and explaining to the pastor that I was seeking help with forgiveness.

The pastor began to pray: “Lord, I don’t know what this sweet girl could have ever done that would cause her to be so distraught and need such forgiveness, but please forgive her.” He continued passionately for quite a while.

My husband stood by listening. I could sense his anxiety as he waited for a chance to clarify that it was not I who needed forgiveness, but that I was seeking God’s help to forgive someone else—Fred.

I stopped my husband before he could correct the pastor. He was right—I had not walked to the front of the church to seek forgiveness for myself. But then I heard God say to me, “Who gave you the right to hate?” I’d never heard anything so unmistakably clear and precise. His words pierced my heart and changed me instantly, as I realized that God’s forgiveness was exactly what I needed.

All my life, I’d felt entitled to hate Fred. He was a monster of a man who made life miserable for my family and me. I didn’t choose to have a wicked stepfather. I didn’t ask for beatings and abuse of all kinds. I was an innocent child, and so were my siblings. No one could argue that point.

Life had not been fair. There had been no way out and no one to save me. I was little and helpless.

Surely I’d had every right to hate. But now God was telling me I was wrong? That I had no right to feel toward Fred the way that I did?

I thought about God’s question. Who had given me the right to hate? Hadn’t Fred’s actions toward me earned me the right to detest him? Evidently not.

I had never considered that hating him was wrong, much less sinful. I had never imagined that I needed to ask for forgiveness.

But that’s what He was saying. And I realized I could do one of two things: I could repent to God for hating Fred, or I could ignore God’s question.

Two very different outcomes—newfound freedom or continued bondage to fear and anxiety—awaited my decision.

That night, I agreed with God. I confessed that I had no right to hate Fred, and I asked God to forgive me. Instantly, I found freedom! As I got my own heart right with God, I was delivered once and for all from my painful past with Fred. He no longer had a hold on me. A profound and miraculous sense of relief replaced the heaviness I knew so well.

I’d been a believer for many years, but I had remained in bondage, held captive by my own ability to hate so deeply. I’d given my life to God and truly loved Him. I’d even done my part by taking the physical and mental steps to confess and willfully forgive my stepfather, even though he had not asked for it. Yet I was not fully delivered from my past until that sweet moment when I gave God access to my own heart so that He could reveal areas in my life that needed attention. I was finally free! How thankful I am that I stepped out of my comfort zone and reached out for help, for it was there that I found God’s wisdom and ultimate healing.

Twenty-four years have passed since that meeting, and I am still being changed daily through God’s Word and His people. It is a constant purification process. Many times, just as fire purifies silver or gold, the fires of life have caused dross to float and become exposed in me. I’ve learned that when I remain humble before God, He can scrape away that dross, and I can be a little more pure than the day before.

If there’s been a Fred in your life, I encourage you to give God full access to your heart so that He can expose and remove any dross that may be hindering you and holding you captive. It’s the only way to find true freedom so that you can be all who God created you to be. Refuse to let your Fred have a hold on you any longer! It’s time to truly live. Humble yourself, and God will lift you up. V

Tracy Stewart is a mother of two, grandmother, and wife to her best friend, Dan. She enjoys renovating homes and furniture and works part time as a dog trainer.

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H

Y P P HA T FEE

by James Islam

Life was wonderful. We had plenty of income.

Our family was healthy and happy. Our mission seemed clear and bright. We decided to take a rare vacation to visit our relatives in Michigan and see some favorite places from my childhood. We had a wonderful trip, filled with laughter and peace and fellowship. Nothing seemed out of place at all.

Not long after we got back home, I noticed that our son Devin’s eye looked different, like maybe he’d bumped or bruised it. He was two-and-a-half years old, so I would not have been surprised to hear that he had fallen or run into something. After raising seven kids, this didn’t really raise an alarm, but his eye just didn’t look right. We decided to watch it for the weekend to see if it improved. It began to look more and more strange.

We took him to our family physician’s office.

Our regular doctor was not there, so one of his partners came in to see us. Extending his hand, he said, “Hello, I’m doctor—” His jaw dropped, and he stopped talking as his gaze focused on Devin’s eye. My wife and I looked at each other, wondering what his response could mean. The doctor referred us immediately to a specialist.

We went straight to the specialist’s office and were met with the same reaction. A blur of hospital visits followed, revealing a mass behind our son’s eye that had grown large enough to push the eye out and to the side slightly. When you hear the word cancer, and it’s attached to your baby—boy, it rocks everything you ever thought you knew. We began learning a new language immediately. Our first vocabulary list included rhabdomyosarcoma.

We set up an appointment at a treatment center.

They told us many things, most of which got lost in the moment. I do remember praying in a whole new way.

As we drove to the Blume Clinic for our consultation, I remember telling my wife not to worry. “We could be run over by a bus before we even start treatment.

God obviously has some doctors and nurses for us to meet,” I told her.

We pulled into that parking lot for the first time and saw more little bald heads coming and going than I had imagined existed in the whole state.

Who knew we lived in a community so full of kids who had cancer?

We met the most amazing staff—from office to child-life specialists, nurses, and doctors. God was clearly directing our path. We agreed to a treatment plan and made arrangements to begin the next leg of our journey.

I was a home builder, and just as we discovered Devin’s tumor, the housing industry experienced an historic crash. The economy entered a general stagnation period. We found ourselves devastated financially and stretched well beyond our capacity emotionally. I fell asleep on my knees praying through the night for weeks on end, asking God to save us from the storms. But He didn’t make them go away. In fact, every day it seemed the storms grew stronger.

Yet God blessed us incredibly.

Friends and family stepped up to help financially. The neighbors we’d adopted

as our children’s North Carolina grandparents helped with childcare. It seemed they never cooked for themselves without making an extra pan of dinner for our family, too. Our oldest daughter was like a mother to the younger kids. What a blessing to see her take charge, stepping up and serving the way she did.

Devin went through his prescribed courses of chemotherapy with such grace. Even as he endured those terrible doses and incredible nausea, he still made us smile. God was with him.

He had radiation treatments every weekday morning for five weeks. Because of the location of the tumor, they designed a special mask for him to wear. He had to be sedated every time because of the risk of collateral damage if he moved even a small amount during treatment.

Now, if you’ve ever been to the radiation treatment area of the hospital, you know that it is not a nonstop party place, especially at 6:00 a.m. But Devin and Donna brought that place to life. Donna rarely went to a doctor’s office without taking along some homebaked bread or cake. And Devin did the “Happy Feet” dance from the hit movie that was popular at the time.

God blessed us through the medical training and personal care our doctors provided, and He blessed them through the hope of a child’s innocent, unpretentious zest for life. Donna’s always said that in adversity your faith grows legs…well, by God’s grace, ours was growing legs and dancing. God was molding and shaping and conforming us into the image of His Son. We went for a scheduled follow-up visit after Devin’s treatments were finished. We were delighted to hear there was no remaining evidence of disease, but Devin’s eye was fried from the radiation. We had expected a time of irritation, but his eye got worse and worse. We treated the eye regularly with drops and ointments as prescribed, but still it got worse.

And the pain grew. He took morphine just to endure a dimmed light. We had to draw heavy curtains and eat in the dark. We used to have contests to see who could guess what supper was.

We covered Devin with heavy blankets to take him out anywhere. He wore sunglasses at night, ran and played with the other kids with his eyes closed, and endured multiple treatments and evaluations to try to restore vision to the damaged eye. Yet he continued to be full of joy. continued on page 30

James Islam has been married to his wife Donna for twenty-seven years, and together they have seven children. He is the operations manager of Florida Food Service in Gainesville, Florida. He is also the president of the Joshua19Foundation. You may recognize the Islam family name from our first issue this year, where we related the faith story of Joshua Islam, the young soldier who died in training at Camp Pendleton in California in 2014. www.kojministries.org 23

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Time on My Hands I was a normal teenager making plans for life after high school when suddenly, two days before my seventeenth birthday, I found my life circumstances completely altered. Three acquaintances and I had planned to tour the campus at University of Green Bay. We started out early that morning in slightly snowy conditions. That didn’t worry us—we were, after all, Wisconsin girls. It wasn’t long, however, before we found ourselves in whiteout conditions. We couldn’t see but a few feet in front of us.

I remember telling the driver of the car to slow down, but it was too late. She rear-ended a snowplow on the highway going 75 miles an hour. In an instant, everything came to a halt, and then there was dead silence.

I was the only one still conscious in the car, and I knew immediately something was seriously wrong with me. I couldn’t feel my legs. They were numb, and I couldn’t move them. I remember wanting my daddy.

That moment changed my life forever. I was paralyzed from the waist down. I would never walk again. With the Lord’s help, however, and with the help of many friends, I emerged victoriously from that accident. Against predictions, I live a very active and blessed life. I married my best friend from high school, Andrew. We have two amazing children, and this year we will celebrate twenty-three years of marriage.

Like many women, my days revolve around being a wife and mother and the countless things that go along with those roles. Dishes that need to be done, endless piles of laundry, grocery shopping, schedules to coordinate, chauffeuring duties—the list goes on. Throw in a prayer group, Bible study, volunteer activities, and my involvement with two nonprofits, and I’d say my days are pretty full.

I’m pretty much like any other mom, except I rely on my wheelchair to move about. Despite my injuries 24

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from that accident, I’ve been amazingly blessed with great health and no major issues relating to my disability.

Until Super Bowl Sunday, 2011. The Packers were playing the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I just didn’t feel like myself. I had a fever and couldn’t enjoy the game.

The malaise hung around, and by Thursday, I had a 104-degree fever. I decided I’d better get to the emergency room. I packed my overnight bag, somehow knowing that I wouldn’t be coming home anytime soon. Within fifteen minutes of checking into the hospital, a doctor was performing surgery, and I had begun a faith journey like none I had ever experienced before.

A severe infection had made its way into my ischial tuberosity bone. Complete bed rest was required so that my body could heal. For months I remained in the hospital, fighting this stubborn infection.

At first, my thoughts were consumed with “I don’t have time for this. I have things to do, children to care for, and volunteer commitments to fulfill! How can I lie around and wait for this to heal?”

The infection was definitely not part of my plan for my life. But you know what? It didn’t take God by surprise at all. While I don’t believe He sent this infection into my life, He nonetheless used it to bring glory to Himself by working in my heart and through my situation. Ultimately, God caused everything to work together for my good, just like Romans 8:28 said He would. One thing is for sure: bed rest will give you something very precious—time.

Day after day, I sent my kids to school with a friend and then lay on my back for seven hours, waiting for them to come home. Waiting was the most difficult thing I had ever done. Rather than grow discouraged, I decided to use this gift of time to study God’s Word and pray. As a result, I grew closer to Him and began to hear from Him more.

God speaks to His children in many ways. He chose music to speak to me during this trying time. At times, song lyrics pierced my heart, like God was speaking directly to me.

Lincoln Brewster’s “Everlasting God” became my theme song.

Whenever I felt alone, I played this song, and it drew me closer to my heavenly Father. It had a funny way of popping up on the radio, too, just when I needed it most. It would lift my spirits as it reminded me that God was right there with me and that He hadn’t left me, even while I was lying flat on my back.

by Wendy Petzold

The song promises that “strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.” That is precisely what I had to do while I waited for my infection to dissipate. I couldn’t change my circumstances; I couldn’t heal myself; I couldn’t free myself from the bondage of that hospital bed. I could only wait for God to move in my situation, for Him to do a mighty work in my body.

And my strength did rise. Though everything seemed to be going against me—I was bedridden, missing out on life, not able to do the things I loved the most—God’s never-ending strength kept me going. He helped me face each day, each challenge, one step at a time. He was just as faithful as He had been when I was first paralyzed.

Every day brought a new adventure with God. I couldn’t wait to see how He would bless and use me.

Some days, a special scripture would jump right off the page and into my heart. Other days, a new nurse or nurse’s assistant would cross my path, and that would lead to a blessed encounter. God reminded me daily that He was at work, even while I lay on my back.

Isaiah 40:28–31 says: The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

More times than I can count, I received a note or a card quoting these verses during my recovery. They were constant reminders that God, in His perfect timing, would help me soar again. The eagle quickly became

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TIME ON MY HANDS | from page 24__________________________________________________

Wendy poses with Lincoln Brewster after his concert.

my symbol of hope, reminding me that God would give me the power and strength to overcome my situation as I trusted Him. On Mother’s Day of 2011, I looked out over Lake Michigan and said to God, “Lord, I haven’t seen eagles soaring in a while.

That would be a wonderful gift on this Mother’s Day.”

I waited, but no eagles flew by. The following Wednesday, however, I saw not one but two eagles soaring outside my window. Back and forth they flew, putting on the most magnificent show I have ever seen.

As I took in the sight, God spoke to my heart. “I could have brought the eagles on Sunday, Wendy, but I chose to bring them today. I am in control, and I haven’t forgotten you. It is My timing, not yours.

Trust Me.” True to His Word, God helped me soar again. In His perfect time, He healed my infection and gave me back my strength.

Looking back, I am thankful that I could experience God through this very difficult situation. Because of my trial, I know Him in a very personal way. He showed me that I am on His mind even during the darkest times. His love carried me through.

God is with you, too. He is with you in your most celebrated moment, and He is with you during your

The Humble Seat With some serious reading of the Bible, you will discover a mystery—the real way up is down! This is the complete opposite of what many of us have learned.

The ways of the world tell us that if we will press, stress, and step on and over whoever and whatever it takes to get to the top, then we will win. The way to the top, according to the world, is to beat whoever is in front of us. And to beat them good!

But listen to what the Bible says: “You [Lord,] will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down” (2 Samuel 22:28).

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

most trying circumstance. He will not fail you in either place. Trust Him. He will bring you through experience, every trial, in His perfect timing, and He’ll give you the strength to endure.

If you’re in a waiting period with time on your hands, I encourage you to spend that time drawing close to the Lord. Seek Him like never before, and you will find Him. Before you know it, you will find yourself soaring on wings like an eagle, high above your storm. V Wendy Petzold earned her BS in education from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She married her best friend, Andrew, in June 1992. She enjoys leading prayer and Bible study groups, reading, scrapbooking, and spending time with her husband and two children.

by Bobby Joiner

“All of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5–7).

As we often discover, Father God tells us in His Word something different than we hear from those who seem to be ruling and winning in this world. He tells us that if we humble ourselves, He will raise us up.

I’ve learned that when God is in charge, whatever position He raises us up to will always be better than where we’d hoped to be.

Humbling ourselves doesn’t mean we stop striving to excel. We still practice and work hard and give our best to everything we do. What it does mean is that we choose to place Christ first and our own desires second. It means we allow Him to take us wherever He wants to in any particular situation.

In my position as tour pastor for New Song and Winter Jam for the past ten years, one of the hardest working but most humble musical groups I’ve had the pleasure of traveling with all across this country is TobyMac and the Diverse City Band. Year in and year out, they remain on top. Toby and his entire group invade the tour with love, joy, and just plain old humble fun!

I remember Eddie Carswell (the founder of New Song and Winter Jam) telling me of a time he and Toby were discussing how they should handle a

sticky business situation that had arisen. Toby just sat there and listened while Eddie presented his side of the story. Then he asked Toby what he thought they should do.

Toby looked at Eddie and then, in dead seriousness, said something like, “Eddie, I’ve found that when there is a legitimate disagreement, the first person to take the humble seat usually wins God’s blessings.”

Folks, that’s a great secret for all of us to remember and rely upon next time we’re involved in a situation where both parties think they are right. I use this advice all the time in my marriage. My wife and I are constantly racing each other to the humble seat. We look like kids playing musical chairs, fighting for that one seat. Like Toby, we know that the humble seat is where we will find God’s blessings.

Next time you feel the urge to beat someone, go for it. Beat them good! Just make sure you are beating them to the humble seat, and then stay there.

Don’t move, no matter how strong the urge. And then watch what Father God will do in your life. V

Dr. Bobby Joiner has been involved in local and international teen and prison ministries, singing and teaching God’s Word. Since 2007, he has enjoyed being the tour pastor for the contemporary Christian group, NewSong, and for the world’s largest music tour, Winter Jam.

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MINISTRY NEWS

UPDATE FROM KOJ MINISTRIES FOUNDER, KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON

Our prison outreach is growing daily!

475

Currently, 425 inmates are being discipled and encouraged by KOJM through our monthly devotionals, Victorious Living magazine, and personal correspondence.

Four new writers joined our Correspondence Team in June, bringing the total to nineteen. Writers are from Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. If you are interested in participating in this ever-growing, lifechanging outreach, contact Linda@kojministries.org.

50

19

100,000

ESTIMATED PRISONERS BEING ENCOURAGED

BY VL

At Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries, (KOJM), we are constantly amazed at how God is opening doors to reach more lives for His kingdom.

Here are some highlights:

An average of fifty new inmates are added each month to our correspondence list.

We have begun a weekly time of intercessory prayer and fasting for prisoners and their families.

Prisoners join us in this special time as they pray and fast within the facilities where they are housed. Thank you to inmate Calvin M., who initiated this ministry.

Kristi partnered with Murf the Surf to encourage inmates at Citrus County Detention Center in Lecanto, FL.

Welcome Rachel!

Victorious Living magazine is now distributed to service men and women in the Florida National Guard.

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KOJM welcomes Rachel Overton to the Victorious Living publication team. Rachel joined us as a freelance editor in May and has brought VL to a new level of professionalism and integrity.

HIT IT!

is a true, exciting, detailed story of the rise, fall, and resurrection of a real sports champion…

Kristi Overton Johnson.

Get ready to be challenged, encouraged, and motivated!

Purchase your copy at kojministries.org for $14.00 plus shipping and handling or visit kojministries.com

26 www.kojministries.org VL_AUGUST_Final.indd 26

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56,OOO MAGAZINES PRINTED SO FAR IN 2015

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KOJM and its partners support the daily needs of fifty orphans in India each month. Thank you!

Orphans are visited

In July 2015, Kristi and her daughter Ivy returned to the Russian orphanage where Ivy was adopted to minister to orphans, orphanage workers, and community residents. They were able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and bless hundreds of women with jewelry donated by our ministry friends. Thank you to all involved.

A full story about their trip to Russia will be published in the November issue of VL.

Exciting new opportunities Kristi released her new autobiography, Hit It, in May. She has since attended several book-signing events and has spoken at various venues.

Russian ladies are blessed with tangible jewelry and the priceless treasure of the Word of God

BE A PART

God is opening doors daily for KOJM. With your help, we can continue to expand our territory and bring hope and victory to people throughout the world.

Visit kojministries.org for more information.

Thank you for your support and your prayers.

THE HEART OF KOJM: Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries seeks to love people to the Life-Giver, Jesus Christ, through its various publications, teaching and singing ministry, as well as prison and orphan outreaches.

KOJM equips minds and encourages hearts with the Living Water of God’s Word.

PO Box 120951 Clermont, FL 34712-0951 352-478-2098 www.kojministries.org

Scan the QR code to Like Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries Facebook page and receive inspirational devotions.

You Can Help By: • Praying for Our Ministry • Becoming a Correspondence Team Member • Sharing VL with others • Inviting Kristi to your church or organization to share what God is doing at KOJM • Financially supporting our publication and outreaches

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MINISTRY NEWS

UPDATE FROM IN HIS WAKES DIRECTOR, NATE MILLER

Miles 23,000

53 Events

Traveled

Hosted

1,122

Kids Attended

500 Volunteers

41

Cities Visited

34

Although founded by Kristi Overton Johnson, In His Wakes is independent of KOJM. If you desire to make a donation to IHW, please go online at inhiswakes.com or send donations to the address below.

PO Box 120987 • Clermont, FL 34712-0987 Nate Miller • 352-745-0283 www.inhiswakes.com

MISSION:

Baptisms

In His Wakes introduces people to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ through water sports.

2 RVs

YOU CAN HELP BY:

30%

Salvation Percent

• Purchasing Bibles, dog tags, medals, and other resources to be used in our “A Day to Remember” program.

• Becoming a monthly supporter.

We need 100 people to commit to $50 a month.

• Sponsoring a child to attend an event. (Cost is $100 per child.)

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Me Mode

by Nate Miller

Much of what the Lord has been showing me this year emphasizes Thankfully, there is no limit to God’s patience and love. Each time the power of the Holy Spirit. Through studies of the scriptures, when I mess up and then finally remember to switch from Me Mode various speakers, and personal experiences, I am coming to a greater back to God Mode, God has made a way for us to move forward. understanding of His power that is given to us and how often I fail to When I look to Him for help instead of trying to fix the situation in my tap into that endless, unfailing power source. own strength, God faithfully floods my mind with ideas and provides How important is the power of the Holy Spirit to us? Acts 1:8 says, the resources and people necessary to free us from the miry clay! “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

As I was writing this article, I was once again faced with a motor And you will be my witnesses…in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in home situation that tested my power source choice. Driving from New Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jersey to North Carolina, the motor home’s engine began to hesitate These were Jesus’s last words of instruction to and refused to go over 50 mph. Our tour schedule is His disciples before ascending into heaven. This jam-packed, so delays like this can prevent us from “but you will leads me to believe they were words of great reaching an event on time. After waiting four hours at receive power importance. Jesus was about to send them into a Freightliner shop and being told that it would take when the Holy the most remote parts of the earth to share the two days for the part we needed to arrive, we were gospel. It was a reminder that what they were faced with a decision: wait two days and miss an event Spirit comes upon called to do would only be possible if the Holy in North Carolina or attempt to drive the remaining you. And you will Spirit was working through them.

200 miles to Greenville. be my witnesses…

My family has been called to take the gospel to We began to pray. in Jerusalem, many places through the water-sports ministries throughout Judea, in As we prayed, a total peace to start driving came of In His Wakes. Some of those places are quite over me. My family felt the same. My daughter Kayla Samaria, and to the remote…or maybe they just seem remote suggested we start singing praises and thanking the ends of the earth.” because we’re navigating down overgrown, Lord in advance for how He was going to provide. So, narrow, mud-covered, gravel roads in a 65down the on-ramp we went, chugging along, singing foot motor home weighing 40,000 pounds and praise songs. We were a sight. pulling a boat loaded down with equipment. Either way, there’ve After 150 miles, the engine reset its limit to 45 mph. Then, it been many times we weren’t sure we would make it to the place the dropped to 35 mph. The last five miles of our trip, we couldn’t go over Lord was calling us to go.

25 mph. We literally coasted into the gate of the property where we It’s during these challenging times that I often forget whose power were hosting the event. We made it…barely. But you know what?

I’m supposed to be relying on so that I can arrive at my destination.

Barely was enough. We got to our destination right on time to do More often than not, I go into “Me Mode.” At the point of needing what God had called us to do. While in North Carolina, we saw God God’s power the most, I switch to the weakest power source do amazing things in the lives of at-risk youth as we remembered to possible…mine. minister in His strength.

You would think as many times as I’ve seen God show up on my Take it from me: When faced with trials, resist the urge to fly into behalf that I would have learned which power source to best rely on, Me Mode. No matter how urgent or overwhelming the situation, but I haven’t. seek the Lord first. Operate in His strength and under His guidance.

As you do, everything else you need will be provided right on time. V

Nate Miller is the director of In His Wakes. He and his wife, Ivy, live in Oregon and minister together through this outreach. If you are interested in learning more about how In His Wakes introduces people to the lifechanging power of Jesus Christ through water sports, contact Nate at nate@inhiswakes.com. In His Wakes is a separate nonprofit organization from KOJ Ministries. www.kojministries.org 29 VL_AUGUST_Final.indd 29

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FROM OUR READERS

ITALIAN FALLS | from page 13_______________________________

Dear Victorious Living Correspondence Team, I wanted you to know what an impact your ministry’s correspondence outreach is having on the lives of inmates. Unlike many inmates, I am blessed to have people who write to me and encourage me on a consistent basis. They visit me, too. Many inmates are not so fortunate. Recently, I witnessed a fellow inmate receive a letter from your writing team. I could hear him yelling across the yard in excitement as he waved the card high in the air, saying, “They wrote to me, Bill. They wrote to me!”

Since my friend cannot read well, he gave me the card so that I could read it to him. I’m sure we made a beautiful sight—a black man and a white man walking through the prison yard with their arms around each other, rejoicing in the spirit of the Lord as I read. I just couldn’t get over how happy one little card could make someone. I got emotional watching him receive with joy the words that had been written by your team. They were just what he needed. Please tell the ladies who write to inmates, thank you. They have no idea the difference they are making. They are truly God’s ladies!

Sincerely, Bill D. Dear Kristi, Your ministry has inspired me while I’ve been in prison. Just knowing that I have a family in Jesus Christ has helped me persevere. Receiving letters from the writing team has especially encouraged my heart. When I get out next year, I would like to help KOJ Ministries in anyway possible. I’d like to help juveniles go further in life.

It is by God’s grace that I am alive, as my pre-Christian ways should have left me for dead. I have survived being shot five times, being hit by a truck at 55 mph and dragged down the street for half a mile, being high on drugs, and being homeless. My survival is a miracle of Christ. My salvation is another miracle. While in prison, I came to know the Lord. In Him, my life has been healed and restored as God has removed my sin. Sin brought me death, disease, and destruction; Christ has brought peace and joy and purpose to my life. Thank you for helping others find salvation in Christ through your ministry.

God bless, Dwight A.

HAPPY FEET | from page 23______________________________ Finally, our eye specialist told us that Devin would never see out of his eye again. After seven years of pain, prayers, and searching, we decided God had some more doctors and nurses and glass-eye makers for us to meet.

Devin was so happy to have his eye removed. He was giddy as he played outside without his sunglasses in the bright light with no pain for the first time in over seven years.

Today he is ten years old and playing on his first football team. He is reading Tim Tebow’s book and says he wants to be different, just like Tim. Devin doesn’t grumble about the eye he doesn’t have. He trusts Jesus, who promises to bring healing in due season. He is training to be everything God created him to be, and he isn’t worrying about how God will accomplish His will. We are trusting God to do what He said He will do—to work all things “together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28). By God’s grace, our faith has legs, and our feet are dancing. V

I had! I did! What about that did they not understand?

She didn’t want to be with me anymore. I had begged her to come back; I told her that I’d forgiven her; but she had found a way to rock-climb alone. She no longer wanted me to help see her safely to the top.

Since that fateful day, I’d spent thousands of dollars trying to feel valued. I bought Swiss clothes, British hats, Italian shoes, and flirted with French girls. Emptiness. None of those things added even a penny to the Hawaii Fund.

None of those things were my dearly beloved wife.

So here I was. I estimated that I was about three hundred feet up the wall now. I had a good fifty feet more to climb, but my arms and legs were getting tired. I wanted to go down. My hands stung and shook uncontrollably. But there was no turning back. There was no rope connecting me to a partner.

Emotion gripped my chest as I realized my solitude. I was alone on a cliff face in the middle of some obscure town in Italy. My eyes stung.

Was it from pain? Sweat? No. It was because I wanted to let go. I wanted this all to be over.

“God!” I screamed. “You were supposed to keep us together! I trusted You!” A small voice replied, “I can’t keep her from doing what she wants, Jake. I gave her free will, just like I gave you.”

“But wasn’t it Your will for us to stay married?”

“Of course. It made me happy to see you two married.

But she has freedom of choice, same as everyone else. It could never be called love if I didn’t give her the freedom to choose. Without the freedom to love and stay faithful, what beauty is there in the commitment of marriage?”

“But it’s not beautiful anymore!”

“I know, and it breaks My heart that people choose to do wrong and hurt others. But I still love her. Just like I love you.”

“But what do I do now? God, I feel so alone.”

“I want you to love, Jake. Do your best just to love others like I love you. Look at your friend Honza. He’s standing down there watching you with the unconditional love of a true friend. Loving other people like that will bring healing to your heart.”

Honza was there. How selfish could I be? He cared about me. He’d unselfishly given up his time and money to be my friend, to console me because he saw the pain and scars etched on my heart. Free will had allowed him a choice, and he had chosen to love. I needed to choose to love so that I could once again live.

The thought of not being loved is a scary thing. For me, it’s scarier than death itself. But that’s not what I should be afraid of. It would be far more terrifying to lose my own capacity to love—or worse, my choice to love.

I reached the top of the wall and there discovered an ancient Roman temple. Golden rays broke free of the clouds as the sun came level with the horizon, gently balancing itself on the edge of the sea. The sea breathed a heavy sigh and whispered in my ear with the ocean breeze. Choose to love. Love like a friend.

It was time to go home. V

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________

Thank you to the following organizations who faithfully support Victorious Living with annual gifts in excess of $500.

When asked why they give, they respond, “Because we care!”

They care about people, and they desire to help many discover true victory.

WHY

I CARE

Faith is stored in our hearts, in our mouths, and in our hands as we obediently give The Word of Life to a lost and dying generation.

At Discount Inboard Marine, LLC, we support Victorious Living because we know that it is here that The Word of Life and Love is being given! And hearts are being made new.

This magazine is making endless ripples of impact; we are blessed to be a part of what God is doing! Nothing compares to the promises of God! May you be blessed as you read the words of testimony which prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is at work in lives and hearts and mouths everywhere, every day, for His Glory!

Thank you KOJ Ministries for the light you shine and the wake you make!

It is our pride and joy to assist you in adding power to lives, through the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. ~Karen Dougherty Discount Inboard Marine, LLC

There is room for your name on this list!

American Solutions for Business cstallings@americanbus.com Captain’s Party Rentals captainspartyrentals.com Clean Cut Lawns danielmelton.cleancut@yahoo.com Community Church of Keystone Heights communitychurchofkeystoneheights.org CWB Wakeboards ridecwb.com Davis Gas davisgas.com Discount Inboard Marine skidim.com First Baptist of Starke fbcstarke.org Keystone Plumbing keystoneplumbinginc@yahoo.com Loving Hands Pet Sitting lovinghandspets.com Nautique Boat Company nautique.com Saturday Night Wonders ephesians-4-prayer-fellowship.com The Clipping Corner Melrose, FL The Trophy Shop thetrophyshop.com

Thank you, as well, to the individuals and foundations who have supported this outreach. www.kojministries.org 31

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GIVE FREEDOM GET FREEDOM

Victorious Living PO Box 120951 Clermont, FL 34712-0951

Non Profit Org US Postage

PAID

Permit No. 610 Jacksonville, FL

People everywhere desperately need to know about God’s power, love, and grace. With your help and God’s Truth, Victorious Living can set captives free!

r I’d like to support Victorious Living and share freedom with others ($20 Suggested Donation).

With your donation, you will receive Victorious Living for one year, and we will also send an inmate on our Prison Correspondence list a personal copy for one year. (Unless you provide a specific inmate’s contact information as a recipient.)

YES! I Want To Be A Part! __________________________________________________ Name #1

__________________________________________________ Address #1

__________________________________________________ City | State | Zip #1

r Send an additional gift subscription of Victorious Living to the recipient listed below ($20 Suggested Donation).

r I’d like to sponsor ____ prison facilities to receive a case of each Victorious Living issue for one year ($400 per prison).

Become A Part of the Victorious Living Family Today!

• Go

online at kojministries.org

• Call 352-478-2098 to place order • Return this order form in the envelope provided in this magazine

__________________________________________________ Email #1

______________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone #1

__________________________________________________ Name #2

__________________________________________________ Address #2

__________________________________________________ City | State | Zip #2

__________________________________________________ Email #2

Telephone #2

A card will be sent to recipients on your behalf to inform them of your gift!

If you would like to send more than one gift, please list names on a separate piece of paper.

r Check attached (make payable to Victorious Living) r Debit (include voided check) r Mastercard r VISA r Please automatically renew my partnership!

Donation Amount _______________________________________________ Cardholder Name (please print) ____________________________________ Card Number __________________________________________________ Expiration Date ________________________________________________ Credit Card Billing Address (required)________________________________ Signature_____________________________________________________ If you have any questions, please call 352-478-2098.

Mail completed forms to: Victorious Living • PO BOX 120951 • Clermont, FL 34712-0951 or fax to 1-888-837-9153

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