Hi, I'm C.A. Murray.
And this is Free Indeed.
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A different kind of ministry.
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The men and women
that you will meet
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in this particular
program have found Jesus
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in very trying circumstances.
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They're gonna
tell you their story,
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their own personal
journey of their walk of faith.
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We haven't changed their music,
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and we haven't
changed their words
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because it's their
personal testimony.
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It's their walk of
faith with Jesus Christ.
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So you're gonna
meet some people,
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some men and women who have made
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some mistakes in their lives.
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But they're trying to change
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that through the
power of Jesus Christ.
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You will meet men
and women who have found
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as we have found that
freedom is not really,
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doesn't have much to
do with where you are,
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it is more what you are.
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You will find,
as they have found
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that in Jesus you can
indeed be Free Indeed.
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This jail is no longer in
use, it's old, paint is peeling,
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but it'll take much
more than a coat of paint
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to make this place
a nice place to live.
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On today's program, we travel
to the Indiana Women's Prison.
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It's a prison,
we're gonna meet Donna,
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and Laura, and Jessica.
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These are women with
great love and great faith,
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But they're in prison.
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They're gonna minister to
us as we minister to them,
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JD and Shelley have a
powerful word for them.
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Lemuel Vega
interviewed some of them.
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We're gonna be blessed,
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we want you to give special
ear to this particular program.
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God's got
something to say to you.
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Today, we are at the
Indiana Women's Prison,
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and we have a
lovely speaker with us,
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her name is Donna Johnson.
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And this is your first
time in prison. Yes, it is.
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How long have you
been in prison, Donna?
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Sixteen years.
Sixteen years. Yes.
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I'm sure that on this
journey beginning to prison
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with a long
sentence, a very long sentence,
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how long of a sentence
did you come to prison with?
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A fifty year sentence.
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Fifty year bit, that's
pretty tough for a young lady
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to be coming up into prison with
a fifty year bit, that's huge.
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Do you have some
children at home?
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Yes, I had four children,
but I have two left now.
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Two left and where
are those children?
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They're in prison.
They're in prison. Yes.
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That has to be
heartbreaking for a mother.
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My mother never
lived long enough to see
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a transformation in my life.
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But I look forward to
seeing my mother one day.
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Share with us the message
that, that really reiterated,
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you personally connected
without relationship with Jesus.
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Well, before I
came to the prison,
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I was like
everybody else in here,
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I didn't--I knew God but I
acted like I didn't know Him,
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the way that I carried
myself, the way that I lived.
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So when I got
into the county jail,
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as I got try to
getting close to the Lord. How?
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I will go to Church
there, but you have to,
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it's not, it's more
than just going to Church.
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You got to have a
desire to change your life,
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a desire to serve Christ.
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It's not enough
just want to do good
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or to say that
you're this or you're that,
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you have to really be who
you say you are in the Lord.
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And anybody can profess Jesus,
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but it's not
about professing Him,
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but you have to possess Him.
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He has to be inside of you.
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And that way no matter
what's going on around you,
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whether you lose
children and loved ones,
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you don't have to worry about.
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Yes, it hurts, but it won't
hurt as bad, Brother Lemuel.
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Because if
something happens like
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that when you got God on
your side and like I said,
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it doesn't mean you
won't have problems.
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But you can you don't
have to exalt your problems,
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you can exalt
your problem solver.
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And that is Jesus. Amen. Yes.
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You know, on this
Christian journey,
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I'm so thankful
that you reiterated that,
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because trials and
temptations still come,
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when I drive
through the neighborhood
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and I see the girl on the corner
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selling the crack
cocaine, I've got a choice. Yes.
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And my choice
is like, dear Lord,
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please help me and
I'll just keep on driving.
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So even with ten years
clean, we still got choices,
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problems, you lost
children, that's tragic.
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And the devil wants to
kill the whole human race
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and God said no, I'm
gonna give my only begotten son
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and so there's the
four angels in Revelations
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are holding the
four winds of strife.
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That's you, that human race
has an opportunity to decide
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who you will serve.
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Because through God,
through the gift of his son
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on the Cross of
Calvary, now we have a decision,
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we can make a decision
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the devil cannot
come in and overtake us.
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So today you
have a choice to make.
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If you're not in the
kingdom of heaven, dear sister,
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it's because you
chose not to be there.
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I know no one
here today is satisfied
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with the lifestyle of sin.
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So problems still come,
but God wants us keep us
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our focus on
Him, and on Him alone,
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and then these
trials will not ditch us.
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Is that correct? Amen.
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Would you have a
favorite Bible scripture
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or something that
you'd like to share?
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Actually I want to go back
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and I'd like you to
share with the world,
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because there's a lot of people
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in the world today
just playing Church.
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We're not got out of
prison, I played Church,
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I wanted what was right
and I begin to go to Church
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and I seen all the
other people had fancy car,
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had this, had that.
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Would you share
with those people
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that we cannot
just be professors.
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Well, but one reason, one reason
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why we can't be
professors is because
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when the trials and
storms of life rage.
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If you fake in, you'll
be-- everybody would know it.
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Because even with
the cursing or whatever,
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I used to curse like a sailor.
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But you know what, I knew
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that God won't dwell
in an unclean temple.
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And you just have to,
you have to be like I said,
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who you say you are in the Lord.
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And even though we have
hard trials and tribulations,
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like I said, it won't be easy
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because we change our
life and walk with Christ.
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But it'll be easy just knowing
that if we're good to a point
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where we feel
like we can't make it.
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That's when He'll
pick us up and carry us.
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Do you have a favorite Bible
scripture in closing, sister?
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Yes, I do, Brother Lemuel.
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I have a lot of
favorite scriptures
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but this one I like the most.
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It's Matthew
Chapter 11 verses 28 to 30.
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And this is said, Jesus said,
take--this is Jesus talking.
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Jesus said, "Come
unto me, all ye that labor
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and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
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Take my yoke upon
you and learn of me,
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for I am meek
and lowly in heart,
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and ye shall find
rest unto your souls.
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For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light."
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And I love that
scripture because
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truly Jesus is all that
He said He is and even more.
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And you know
what, when you become,
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when you decide
to change your life
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over to walk with Jesus.
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Don't think it's
gonna be a bed of roses
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because you're going to
have all kinds of adversaries
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trying to attack
you, but Jesus said,
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all men, not some,
He said that all men
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will hate you
for my name's sake.
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So He just said, this
race is not given to the swift
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nor to the
strong, but to the one
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that endureth
until the end. Amen.
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A lot of times in my
life, it's just me and God,
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and I tend to forget
about that and I think Oh, well,
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I have to make sure
that this person is happy
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and I have to make
sure and I forget sometimes
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that it is, it's me and God.
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And it's between us
and I'm not the type
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that's gonna
stand up and quote you
00:08:07.74\00:08:09.31
a millions, million scriptures.
00:08:09.32\00:08:10.64
And I'm not
gonna, I can't preach
00:08:10.65\00:08:12.97
but I love what
I have between Him
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and it's intimate relationship,
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the opening of my heart
that I have had a horrible time
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doing that with God,
because of my past with,
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with men really
and not trusting.
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And so, I've I
always pray, dear Jesus,
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I know that, I
want to trust you.
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It's not that I don't want You,
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I don't know
how, please show me.
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And so day by day
and second by second,
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He has opened my heart
and not only towards Him
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but to other people
who I never thought,
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you know what I mean,
00:08:44.72\00:08:45.72
that I would be involved
with just by helping them
00:08:45.73\00:08:49.06
and seeing that we
have a common ground.
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A lot of people
have an issue with trust.
00:08:51.12\00:08:53.65
And so by opening
my heart to God that,
00:08:53.66\00:08:56.92
that song is my
favorite, my favorite.
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Alone in a room,
It's just me and You
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I feel so lost 'Cause
I don't know what to do
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Now what if I choose
the wrong thing to do
00:09:20.36\00:09:29.29
I'm so afraid,
afraid of disappointing You
00:09:29.30\00:09:35.99
So I need to talk to You
and ask You for Your guidance
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Especially today
when my life is so cloudy
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Guide me until I'm sure
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I open up my heart, oh, yeah
00:09:58.70\00:10:10.00
My hopes and
dreams are fading fast
00:10:14.51\00:10:24.22
I'm all burned out
00:10:24.23\00:10:27.50
and I don't think
my strengths gonna last
00:10:27.51\00:10:32.55
So I'm crying
out, crying out to You
00:10:32.56\00:10:39.39
Lord I know that
You're the only one
00:10:39.40\00:10:43.98
who is able to pull me through
00:10:43.99\00:10:47.90
So I need to talk to You
and ask You for your guidance
00:10:47.91\00:10:57.46
Especially today,
when my world seems
00:10:57.47\00:11:04.45
just a little bit
cloudy Lord, You guide me
00:11:04.46\00:11:11.77
I open up my
heart, oh, yeah, yes I do
00:11:11.78\00:11:23.67
So show me how to
do things Your way
00:11:23.68\00:11:34.12
Don't let me make the same
mistakes over and over again
00:11:34.13\00:11:42.38
Your will be done
and I'll be the one
00:11:42.39\00:11:52.77
to make sure
that it's carried out
00:11:52.78\00:11:56.27
And in me, I don't
want any doubt, that's why
00:11:56.28\00:12:01.11
I want to talk to You, yes I do
00:12:01.12\00:12:05.95
And ask You for Your guidance
00:12:05.96\00:12:09.61
Especially today,
when my world seems
00:12:09.62\00:12:17.03
just a little bit cloudy
00:12:17.04\00:12:18.78
Lord, You would guide me through
00:12:18.79\00:12:22.11
would guide me through
00:12:22.12\00:12:24.94
I open up, I open up,
open up my heart to You, to You
00:12:24.95\00:12:32.88
You're the lover of my
soul The Captain of my sea
00:12:32.89\00:12:37.19
I need a word from You
Just one word, just one word
00:12:37.20\00:12:43.02
I open up, I open
up, open up my heart
00:12:43.03\00:12:51.06
Just one word could make
a difference in what I do
00:12:51.07\00:12:54.68
Lord, guide me until I'm sure
00:12:54.69\00:12:59.46
Oh, I open up, I open up,
open up my heart to You, to You.
00:12:59.47\00:13:07.77
Just trust, just try
a little bit at first.
00:13:07.78\00:13:10.46
All you got to do is
give God a little bit,
00:13:10.47\00:13:12.36
open your heart to Him.
00:13:12.37\00:13:14.34
Sit and listen to that
song, listen to the words,
00:13:14.35\00:13:17.64
you know, listen to the melody
00:13:17.65\00:13:19.66
and just ask God to
open, open your heart.
00:13:19.67\00:13:22.89
And I think that if you would do
00:13:22.90\00:13:25.05
that your life will
change dramatically.
00:13:25.06\00:13:27.77
You're the lover of my
soul The Captain of my sea
00:13:27.78\00:13:31.82
I need a word from You
That's why I open up my heart.
00:13:31.83\00:13:48.17
Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!
00:13:57.13\00:13:59.18
We could be in a
concert hall in New York City
00:13:59.19\00:14:02.19
and it wouldn't
touch this, okay,
00:14:02.20\00:14:03.63
you can't touch that.
00:14:03.64\00:14:04.98
We are here in the
Indiana Women's Prison,
00:14:04.99\00:14:07.04
and you'd to pay $45 for
a ticket to be here today.
00:14:07.05\00:14:11.02
And I tell you what,
your tickets already been paid
00:14:11.03\00:14:13.75
because Jesus died
upon the Cross Calvary
00:14:13.76\00:14:16.39
to be free indeed. So
we have a special guest
00:14:16.40\00:14:19.51
and I'd like to
call up Jessica Utter,
00:14:19.52\00:14:21.60
one of your very own
and God has made it possible
00:14:21.61\00:14:25.26
that we all can
experience this true freedom.
00:14:25.27\00:14:28.04
How many times
you've been in prison?
00:14:28.05\00:14:29.65
This is my third
time. Third time in prison.
00:14:29.66\00:14:32.31
How much time do
you have remaining left?
00:14:32.32\00:14:34.30
Hmm, about four
months when I get time
00:14:34.31\00:14:36.63
for completing my
bachelor's degree.
00:14:36.64\00:14:38.61
As we talk, you got
a bachelor's degree.
00:14:38.62\00:14:41.09
I'm working on
it. Working on it,
00:14:41.10\00:14:42.76
I didn't even get my
GED in the Penitentiary,
00:14:42.77\00:14:44.57
I tried but I didn't
because I just couldn't,
00:14:44.58\00:14:46.89
I wasn't ready I guess.
00:14:46.90\00:14:48.51
Jessica, you
have a special message
00:14:48.52\00:14:50.19
to the teenagers today.
00:14:50.20\00:14:52.27
You know, you were
probably side tracked
00:14:52.28\00:14:54.07
as a young lady and
begin your world, begin
00:14:54.08\00:14:56.91
to spiral downward,
what message of hope,
00:14:56.92\00:14:59.39
this is Free
Indeed and it's about
00:14:59.40\00:15:00.88
giving a message of
hope to the world today.
00:15:00.89\00:15:02.87
What would you share with those
00:15:02.88\00:15:04.16
young ladies out
there and the young people?
00:15:04.17\00:15:06.45
I just would like to say
00:15:06.46\00:15:07.70
that you don't
always have to fit in,
00:15:07.71\00:15:09.56
I spent my entire life
trying to fit in with crowds
00:15:09.57\00:15:12.18
and doing the
things that they were doing
00:15:12.19\00:15:14.40
and it's not about that,
Jesus is with you all the time
00:15:14.41\00:15:17.40
and no matter where
you're at and what you're doing,
00:15:17.41\00:15:19.80
He's gonna be there.
00:15:19.81\00:15:21.24
So peer pressures a
big tool in society today
00:15:21.25\00:15:24.81
and you feel like you've
got to do things to fit in.
00:15:24.82\00:15:27.53
Yeah, I mean I did,
00:15:27.54\00:15:28.61
I ended up doing
drugs, drinking, you know.
00:15:28.62\00:15:32.50
Yeah, peer pressure
is really quite a thing
00:15:32.51\00:15:34.90
but how even though
in prison share with me
00:15:34.91\00:15:37.71
about that
freedom that you found.
00:15:37.72\00:15:39.89
Well, I came here,
I've started at the county,
00:15:39.90\00:15:43.02
I got to the county
that I was facing 40 years
00:15:43.03\00:15:45.35
for dealing cocaine
and I just felt lost--
00:15:45.36\00:15:48.98
I was doing it because
00:15:48.99\00:15:50.21
I was trying to fit
in with other people.
00:15:50.22\00:15:52.01
And I just realized
that it was time to do
00:15:52.02\00:15:55.78
something different clearly
00:15:55.79\00:15:56.83
what I was doing wasn't working.
00:15:56.84\00:15:58.01
And we can't get
out on our own. Right.
00:15:58.02\00:15:59.88
I mean you get in,
it's easy to get in
00:15:59.89\00:16:01.73
but you can't get
out on your own. Yeah.
00:16:01.74\00:16:03.57
And that's
through the power of God.
00:16:03.58\00:16:04.75
How did you come to
that relationship with Jesus?
00:16:04.76\00:16:06.81
I've always known God,
00:16:06.82\00:16:08.01
I just finally was realized
00:16:08.02\00:16:10.39
that I needed to, like I
said, do something different,
00:16:10.40\00:16:12.38
so I just started
praying and going to Church
00:16:12.39\00:16:14.10
and got baptized and.
00:16:14.11\00:16:16.85
And that gave you some,
some internal peace. Yes.
00:16:16.86\00:16:20.42
What would you
share with the drug addict
00:16:20.43\00:16:21.80
that's still
suffering in society today
00:16:21.81\00:16:23.59
or that person
with a peer pressure
00:16:23.60\00:16:25.15
they're doing stuff that
they really don't want to do.
00:16:25.16\00:16:27.36
Just ask God unto your life,
He's everything that you need.
00:16:29.02\00:16:32.45
Do you have a
favorite Bible scripture
00:16:32.46\00:16:33.89
something that you've been
holding unto you that helps you?
00:16:33.90\00:16:36.16
Psalm 73:23, "Yet I
still belong to you,
00:16:36.17\00:16:41.01
you are holding my right hand,"
00:16:41.02\00:16:42.31
unto me that's just saying that,
00:16:42.32\00:16:44.39
He is always with
me not matter what,
00:16:44.40\00:16:45.79
no matter where I'm
at and what I'm doing
00:16:45.80\00:16:47.39
or how I'm feeling,
He's always there. Amen.
00:16:47.40\00:16:49.99
And Christ died
for the human race
00:16:50.00\00:16:52.90
and He ascended unto his Father,
00:16:52.91\00:16:55.13
and He promised that He would
the comforter His Holy Spirit.
00:16:55.14\00:16:58.05
So no matter what
we're going through,
00:16:58.06\00:16:59.80
He'll be there to
bless and hold our hand
00:16:59.81\00:17:01.62
and encourage us, amen. Amen.
00:17:01.63\00:17:03.39
Thank you very, very
much for giving up your time.
00:17:03.40\00:17:05.85
Thank you. God bless you.
00:17:05.86\00:17:07.33
This is our pleasure to
be here as I look out here,
00:17:09.94\00:17:13.37
what beautiful women,
God loves each one of you.
00:17:13.38\00:17:17.96
The focal point of
our life is Jesus Christ.
00:17:17.97\00:17:22.10
And in a few minutes
Shelley is going to share
00:17:22.11\00:17:24.26
some scripture with you.
00:17:24.27\00:17:26.01
First of all, Free Indeed,
00:17:26.02\00:17:28.98
that's something that
we all are looking for.
00:17:28.99\00:17:32.45
Sometimes we're behind
different types of bars,
00:17:32.46\00:17:37.03
but we all fight the
battle of being free.
00:17:37.04\00:17:40.51
I'm gonna open up
this, this time with a prayer
00:17:40.52\00:17:44.66
with your permission and
we'll take it from there.
00:17:44.67\00:17:48.95
Father, we just want
to thank You so much,
00:17:48.96\00:17:50.73
Lord, for being in our hearts.
00:17:50.74\00:17:53.08
We cry out to You, dear Father.
00:17:53.09\00:17:55.40
Father, we
invite the Holy Spirit
00:17:55.41\00:17:57.62
just to through a
net over us, dear Father.
00:17:57.63\00:18:00.58
And as we just become
sensitive to You, dear Father.
00:18:00.59\00:18:04.53
I just say as that is
Shelley opens up this time
00:18:04.54\00:18:07.69
that Your words will
come out of her mouth.
00:18:07.70\00:18:10.60
Father, words
that each person here,
00:18:10.61\00:18:13.34
each precious
lady here, dear Father.
00:18:13.35\00:18:15.76
Each precious man
that's here, dear Father,
00:18:15.77\00:18:18.37
that something
will touch their hearts
00:18:18.38\00:18:20.83
and it'll bring a
little bit more light
00:18:20.84\00:18:23.16
to what they're looking for.
00:18:23.17\00:18:25.00
Father, we're
looking to be freed,
00:18:25.01\00:18:27.31
we'll give you
the praise and glory,
00:18:27.32\00:18:29.15
thank you for this time.
00:18:29.16\00:18:30.91
In the name of your
precious, precious son, amen.
00:18:30.92\00:18:36.01
I found the scripture
and I want to read it to you.
00:18:36.02\00:18:38.48
So I'm gonna read it to you
from the NIV, Jeremiah 29:11.
00:18:38.49\00:18:43.50
And the Lord
says, "I know the plans
00:18:43.51\00:18:46.72
I have for you,
plans to prosper you
00:18:46.73\00:18:49.51
and not to harm you,
plans to give you a hope,"
00:18:49.52\00:18:53.78
and He's not talking
about wishful thinking hope,
00:18:53.79\00:18:56.74
He's talking
about eager expectation,
00:18:56.75\00:19:00.34
that you expect God
to do something for you.
00:19:00.35\00:19:03.82
He says hope and a future.
"Then you will call upon me."
00:19:03.83\00:19:11.05
When? When will
we call upon God?
00:19:11.06\00:19:15.68
When we recognize that
God has a plan for our lives
00:19:15.69\00:19:21.23
and it's better than
the one we're living.
00:19:21.24\00:19:24.56
I know God's plan for my life
00:19:24.57\00:19:26.74
is better than
the one I'm living,
00:19:26.75\00:19:28.42
but I'm here to tell you,
He's got a plan for all of us.
00:19:28.43\00:19:33.38
And it's a plan that's better
than the one we're living.
00:19:33.39\00:19:36.73
And He says, "when you
know this you will call upon me
00:19:36.74\00:19:40.92
and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
00:19:40.93\00:19:43.93
You will seek me and
find me when you seek for me
00:19:43.94\00:19:49.31
with all your heart.
00:19:49.32\00:19:50.95
I will be found by you,
00:19:50.96\00:19:53.56
and I will bring you
back from captivity."
00:19:53.57\00:19:57.57
I don't know about you,
but that's an exciting thought
00:19:57.58\00:20:00.01
to think that the God of
heaven, in Jeremiah 31:3,
00:20:00.02\00:20:04.11
He says, I have loved
you and that's all of you."
00:20:04.12\00:20:08.60
Donna, where are you sitting?
00:20:08.61\00:20:09.69
I was talking to
Donna a while ago.
00:20:09.70\00:20:11.43
God loves you
with all of his heart,
00:20:11.44\00:20:15.70
with an everlasting love
00:20:15.71\00:20:18.09
and therefore with
loving kindness, He draws us.
00:20:18.10\00:20:22.60
You know, the good news is this,
00:20:22.61\00:20:25.69
God not only has plan for you,
00:20:25.70\00:20:29.74
but He is the one that
will work it out in you
00:20:29.75\00:20:31.91
when you surrender to God.
00:20:31.92\00:20:34.67
When you say, Lord, help me,
00:20:34.68\00:20:37.21
I'm here to surrender my will,
00:20:37.22\00:20:38.86
let your will
be done in my life.
00:20:38.87\00:20:41.44
Then God will cause you to
be all that He calls you to be.
00:20:41.45\00:20:48.19
The Bible says, Paul
says, that He works in you
00:20:48.20\00:20:54.20
to will and to do
his good pleasure.
00:20:54.21\00:20:58.85
You know, Paul said
in Philippians 2:12,
00:20:58.86\00:21:00.44
"work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling."
00:21:00.45\00:21:03.52
And I used to do that
with my knees knocking,
00:21:03.53\00:21:06.49
because I didn't know
how much God loved me.
00:21:06.50\00:21:09.37
But in the very next
verse in Philippians 2:13,
00:21:09.38\00:21:11.84
He says, "not in
your own strength,
00:21:11.85\00:21:14.59
for it is God who works
in you to will and to act,
00:21:14.60\00:21:20.56
to do God's good pleasure."
00:21:20.57\00:21:22.53
You know, how that
works, it's two separate steps.
00:21:22.54\00:21:25.42
First, God works in us to
line our will up with his.
00:21:25.43\00:21:31.37
To change our
desires when, you know,
00:21:31.38\00:21:34.47
the Bible says, "we
have the mind of Christ,"
00:21:34.48\00:21:37.49
it's right here, this
is the mind of Christ.
00:21:37.50\00:21:40.72
And the more this word
that we get into our mind,
00:21:40.73\00:21:43.59
God will reprogram our mind.
00:21:43.60\00:21:46.08
I mean, I had things
happen to me when I was a child,
00:21:46.09\00:21:48.47
that shouldn't
happened to any child
00:21:48.48\00:21:50.11
and I know that there's
probably stories in here
00:21:50.12\00:21:52.44
that are a whole
lot worse than mine.
00:21:52.45\00:21:54.81
But God will reprogram your mind
00:21:54.82\00:21:58.09
as you get the
scripture into your heart.
00:21:58.10\00:22:00.49
And He'll line your
will up with His will.
00:22:00.50\00:22:04.18
He will cut you
free from the court
00:22:04.19\00:22:05.99
of the wicked that binds you.
00:22:06.00\00:22:08.81
I know He's cut me free.
00:22:08.82\00:22:10.32
I had a sister who was a
drug addict for 15 years.
00:22:10.33\00:22:13.51
I prayed and I said, Oh, Lord,
00:22:13.52\00:22:15.74
open her eyes and turn
out from darkness to life
00:22:15.75\00:22:17.93
from the power of Satan to you
00:22:17.94\00:22:19.88
that she might
receive forgiveness of sins.
00:22:19.89\00:22:22.59
And that she might
receive and be a partaker
00:22:22.60\00:22:25.73
of the inheritance
that's in for those
00:22:25.74\00:22:29.38
who are sanctified by Christ.
00:22:29.39\00:22:31.74
And so when,
when you are praying
00:22:31.75\00:22:35.60
like that for someone
else or when you recognize
00:22:35.61\00:22:38.55
that God has a plan you
get this word in your heart,
00:22:38.56\00:22:41.80
then He lines your
will up with His will,
00:22:41.81\00:22:44.55
His thoughts
become your thoughts.
00:22:44.56\00:22:46.34
You begin to think
differently about things.
00:22:46.35\00:22:50.01
And then will God
ever forces to act, no.
00:22:50.02\00:22:55.17
So how can He work in
His to will and to do?
00:22:55.18\00:22:59.10
Well, it's two separate steps.
00:22:59.11\00:23:01.19
As He changes our will
and lines our thoughts up
00:23:01.20\00:23:04.34
with His, our
desires up with His,
00:23:04.35\00:23:07.18
then He says, there is
just one step between me
00:23:07.19\00:23:10.80
working in you
to will and to do.
00:23:10.81\00:23:13.77
And that's step is that you
take one little step of faith
00:23:13.78\00:23:18.85
and as soon as you do,
the power of the Holy Spirit
00:23:18.86\00:23:22.58
will show up to working
you to do the right thing.
00:23:22.59\00:23:28.24
I want you to say,
I've got such a short time
00:23:28.25\00:23:30.71
to talk to you and I'm used
00:23:30.72\00:23:32.67
I can't I usually
teach for an hour or so,
00:23:32.68\00:23:35.56
I've got all these
things that I want to tell you
00:23:35.57\00:23:37.62
in just such a short time.
00:23:37.63\00:23:39.54
But if you don't hear anything,
00:23:39.55\00:23:40.78
yes I'm saying here this.
00:23:40.79\00:23:42.62
Draw near to God, and
He will draw near to you.
00:23:42.63\00:23:46.00
That's His promise.
That's His promise in James 4:8.
00:23:46.01\00:23:50.95
"If you will take
that step toward God,
00:23:50.96\00:23:53.49
He will draw you closer."
00:23:53.50\00:23:55.78
And how do we draw near?
00:23:55.79\00:23:58.04
Hebrews 4:16, the Lord
says, "that we can come boldly,
00:23:58.05\00:24:03.60
boldly before His
throne of grace to find mercy
00:24:03.61\00:24:07.47
and help in the time of need."
00:24:07.48\00:24:09.72
So we draw near through prayer.
00:24:09.73\00:24:12.35
We draw near
through studying His word.
00:24:12.36\00:24:15.48
We draw near by
confessing our sins
00:24:15.49\00:24:18.22
and 1 John 1:9 says,
"that if we confess our sins,
00:24:18.23\00:24:22.14
He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins,"
00:24:22.15\00:24:25.75
and not only
that, "but to cleanse us
00:24:25.76\00:24:27.44
of all unrighteousness."
00:24:27.45\00:24:30.78
One of my favorite verses
00:24:30.79\00:24:32.07
in the Bible, is Luke 7:47.
00:24:32.08\00:24:36.19
When you get a
chance I want you to look at
00:24:36.20\00:24:38.04
look this up just remember,
Luke in a 7:47 Boeing jet,
00:24:38.05\00:24:42.60
that's how you
remember Luke 7:47.
00:24:42.61\00:24:45.71
And what this to
said the scripture up,
00:24:45.72\00:24:48.52
there was a woman
Jesus was, you know,
00:24:48.53\00:24:51.07
in the day of
Jesus, they reclined,
00:24:51.08\00:24:53.14
they sat and the
tables were really low.
00:24:53.15\00:24:56.02
So he's reclined at a table,
having a meal with a Pharisee.
00:24:56.03\00:25:01.52
And the Pharisees
were very religious.
00:25:01.53\00:25:04.46
And he's got his group
and this woman comes in
00:25:04.47\00:25:07.67
and she breaks an alabaster box.
00:25:07.68\00:25:10.79
And she begins to
pour it out on his feet.
00:25:10.80\00:25:14.95
And he begins, she's crying
00:25:14.96\00:25:16.95
and she takes
down her long hair.
00:25:16.96\00:25:19.56
She is washing his
feet with her hair.
00:25:19.57\00:25:23.94
And he asks this Pharisee,
this very religious man.
00:25:23.95\00:25:29.97
This holier than down man,
who is recoiling at the act
00:25:29.98\00:25:34.96
that Jesus would let this woman
of ill repute wash his feet.
00:25:34.97\00:25:41.19
And you know,
what Jesus says to him,
00:25:41.20\00:25:43.33
He tells him this
parable about a man
00:25:43.34\00:25:46.62
who owed a lot and a
man who owed a little.
00:25:46.63\00:25:51.22
And the deaths were both
wiped away by the master.
00:25:51.23\00:25:56.07
And he said, who do
you think will love more.
00:25:56.08\00:25:59.25
The one who had
a little forgiven,
00:25:59.26\00:26:01.85
this little debt or the one
who had this big debt forgiven.
00:26:01.86\00:26:06.30
And the man the
Pharisee rightly judges,
00:26:06.31\00:26:08.75
he says, well, I suppose the man
00:26:08.76\00:26:11.17
who had the amongst
forgiven would love the most.
00:26:11.18\00:26:15.32
You know what Jesus
says, He says, amen.
00:26:15.33\00:26:19.83
Therefore I tell
you that, you know,
00:26:19.84\00:26:22.53
when I came into your
home, you didn't wash my feet.
00:26:22.54\00:26:25.89
You didn't give me
anything to wash my feet
00:26:25.90\00:26:27.77
and that was a very
important part of their culture,
00:26:27.78\00:26:30.64
you want a really good host,
00:26:30.65\00:26:32.12
if you wouldn't wash their feet.
00:26:32.13\00:26:33.56
Because they walked
around in these sandals
00:26:33.57\00:26:35.23
and they were dusty and they had
00:26:35.24\00:26:37.29
may be cow dung on them
or sheep dung or something,
00:26:37.30\00:26:40.66
it was considered courtesy.
00:26:40.67\00:26:43.41
But here's what happened.
00:26:43.42\00:26:45.11
He says, I say to you, her sins
00:26:45.12\00:26:49.37
which are many are
forgiven because she loved much.
00:26:49.38\00:26:55.89
But to whom little is
forgiven the same love's little.
00:26:55.90\00:27:02.28
I believe that you have more
potential sitting in this room
00:27:02.29\00:27:05.86
for good than most
churches. I mean that.
00:27:05.87\00:27:11.49
Because when you
come to the Lord,
00:27:11.50\00:27:14.08
we're all sinners. We're
all sinners saved by grace.
00:27:14.09\00:27:18.10
But when you come to the Lord,
and give your heart to the Lord.
00:27:18.11\00:27:21.45
The more you've been forgiven
00:27:21.46\00:27:22.73
that greater that sinned
at that was on your back,
00:27:22.74\00:27:25.73
the more you will love God.
00:27:25.74\00:27:28.89
So my time is up
well, I'm gonna tell you
00:27:28.90\00:27:31.17
is draw near to God.
00:27:31.18\00:27:33.92
Romans 15:13
says, "the God of hope
00:27:33.93\00:27:38.60
will fill your
heart to overflowing
00:27:38.61\00:27:43.27
and you will
bubble over with hope,
00:27:43.28\00:27:46.69
and expect and see
for what a God of love
00:27:46.70\00:27:50.14
will do in your life."
00:27:50.15\00:27:52.51
You are
beautiful and I love you.
00:27:52.52\00:27:55.70
You've been here
how long? Eleven years.
00:28:06.19\00:28:08.03
And this is the best gift, what?
00:28:08.04\00:28:09.25
This is the best
gift we've ever got.
00:28:09.26\00:28:10.83
Well, it's a
little late for Christmas
00:28:10.84\00:28:12.66
but we just made a program
called Christmas behind bars,
00:28:12.67\00:28:15.58
but it's kind of a
year along program now so.
00:28:15.59\00:28:17.67
That's a best
gift we've ever had.
00:28:17.68\00:28:19.14
Good, well. You
can do me a favor
00:28:19.15\00:28:20.94
and you could write
to your superintendent,
00:28:20.95\00:28:22.42
let him know that
you appreciate it--
00:28:22.43\00:28:25.95
Thanks, man.
Hey, you're welcome.
00:28:25.96\00:28:27.89
It's a blessing
to me. God bless you.
00:28:27.90\00:28:29.23