Journal: July 13, 2010

Dear Friends,

It has been a wonderful day in the Lord! I was able to go to the yard this morning and enjoy a nice morning before the heat came. It was 97 today and will be 106 in a few days. This goes on through August. I am grateful for the swamp cooling and my fan.

I spent the late morning preparing for my sermon I was able to give in the afternoon. I spent quite ea bit of prayer on it both praying God would direct me in preparing it and that He would touch the hearts of the men who would hear it. It was based on 2 Cor. 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you.” But the sermon was on how we can hinder this all-sufficient grace by having three wrong attitudes (sins):
1) an unthankful heart (not thanking God for this trial);
2) a complaining spirit; and
3) not being prayerfully dependent on the Lord.

The Lord blessed the sermon from what the men said and I am grateful.

Then this evening, one of the brothers who was to give the devotion on the yard, could not, so I substituted for him bringing a message on how to deal with anger. This of course, has been an area I have needed to grow in, but the Lord gave me wisdom through His word.

This morning, at 4:30am, brother Tim was taken away and it was a sad time. He will go to another prison and we will not likely see him ever again until heaven. He has been a bright spot on this yard for nearly 5 years.

Last evening, we all gathered on the yard to pray. There were about 17 of us and we prayed for our families (mine included) and for many other things. Some of the men are going through such tragedies, but their spirits are still very sweet in the Lord. I am thankful God placed me around such wonderful brothers in the Lord. Though I long to be free and with my family, I am grateful to the Lord for all He is doing in here., in my own heart, and on this yard for His glory.