Prison Ministries

Read Luke 11:39-44, Proverbs 28
Just A Little Bit More

“O God, I beg two favors from You before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.” Proverbs 30:7-9 NLT

To the greedy, how much is enough is always “just a little bit more.” Even the ungreedy often have a difficult time distinguishing between wants and needs.

We live in a consumer-driven economy that is based on creating a demand and then supplying that demand, and everything is made to look and sound so appealing.

Whether the world or the devil is doing the tempting, it is hard to resist the promise of the beer ads for fun and adventure, the car ads for the hemi, or for more power, more of everything, shampoo for beautiful hair,etc.

All we have to do is discard our old and try the new and improved.

Satan will often plant seeds of dissatisfaction with our jobs and even our marriages to get us looking for “just a little bit more” happiness.

Sometimes we are so focused on seeking “just a little bit more” that we have it made and don’t even know it until we mess up and realize too late how good we really had it.

Generosity is one of the best antidotes for greed that has ever been invented. It also opens up the flood gates of God’s blessings with which He wants to bless us.

What we really need to understand is that our worth and wealth is not based on what we have but on Who we have. We can always be greedy for “just a little bit more” of Jesus!

Father, help me to be like Paul and learn to be content and filled with Your peace and joy, no matter what my worldly circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 4, Isaiah 43

It’s So Good to Know!

“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 NLT

If we have never wandered aimlessly lost, we should thank God that we have been spared the futility of a life apart from God. If we have known the feeling of being lost, we should thank God that He has put us on the right path through this barren wilderness of sin.
Read the rest of this devotional »

Read James 1, Psalm 107
Is God a Legalist?

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

“Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD.” Psalm 107:43 NLT John 10:10, 11

Where does anyone get the idea that God is a kill joy? Nothing could be further from the truth. Rather than rob us of joy and pleasure, God’s moral code is designed to lead us to know joy to the fullest.

In the area of sexuality, university studies show that people who live out their sexuality God’s way report 39% higher sexual enjoyment, far fewer divorces, and far fewer problems with adultery, disease, and guilt.

When it comes to enjoying life to its fullest, Jesus reminds us that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Financial wealth has no real value apart from a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:21 NLT).

If we parents, being evil, try to protect our children by setting limits for them, how much more does our Heavenly Father protect us by providing us with a moral code designed to help us live life to the fullest God’s way.

God blesses us when we are meek, humble, and pure in heart, when we thirst after righteousness, and when we are peacemakers.

Would a kill joy come to earth as a man, live a perfect life, and suffer the torments of hell in order that we might escape the torments of hell?

Father, thank you for loving me enough to not only die for me but to show me how to live life to the fullest in Your peace and joy. Amen. In Jesus’ name, Amen

by Bill Hardaway [wkent1954@aol.com]
I Want My Children To Come To Me

It was not hard for Me to create all things–the earth, the heavens
and even Adam and Eve. Nothing is too hard to Me to do.

But here is what is hard for Me: crying out for My children to come to Me, and watching them pull away…or even run away…from Me. It is hard for Me to bare the rejection of those who I have called My own.

Any earthly parent desires the absolute best for their children, and I desire what is best for you. I see the pain of when parents are unable to provide what they truly desire for their children, but unlike them, I can provide all your needs, for I have supply without limits.

So why do you not come to Me and allow Me to give you abundance? If you do not come to Me, you will not know My great love and desire to meet your every need.

Quit believing the lies of the enemy. He will tell you that I am mean and that I will make you earn everything that you get from Me. Then He will tell you that no matter how hard you follow Me, you will only get half of what you deserve from Me. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

So come to Me, ask of Me, and watch as I bless you. You have nothing to lose by coming to Me and sharing your heart’s desires with Me. I alone am capable of solving everything that lays before you. How would you feel if your children would not come to you, no matter how hard you cried out to them?

I desire the best for you life. So make the best decision of your life:
come to Me and see what I will do for you.