it's been paid

Got an email not too long ago from my good friend Dee. She has a prison ministry for women in the Austin area. She had recently been contacted by a lady named Monica who was newly out of the system. Monica had been being taken care of by her boyfriend but he walked out the door when the going got tuff! She was left broke, alone, and with little hope.



Monica is a new believer and is really seeking a new life. Many times when these ladies are released from prison they have nowhere to go but back to their old ways, old habits and old life. Most of these ladies were raised in a home where stealing, drugs and hate is apart of normal everyday life. Usually the people/friends/family that are waiting for them on the other side are still using drugs, prostituting and dealing. So you can imagine how difficult it would be to get out and start a whole new life. It is very hard for these ladies to get a job many times due to there past. Many of them want to change and have a better life, but the world makes it very hard for them to get out and have a fresh start


When people turn to Christ in prison and start to walk out their faith, they begin to change. Change their thoughts and actions. Change their wants and desires. Change their hopes and dreams.


Where will they go? Who will help them? Who will support them? Who will comfort them?


I Thank God for my friend and so many like her who love these women with the Love of Christ! God has Dee connected and plugged into all the right places. She has been invited to teach classes in prison on how to hear God's voice and has also on many occasions been able to wait at the gate as ladies come out for the first time a free woman! God is really working in prison ministry! Many lives being transformed!


Back to the email, it came in with the subject- "i need your help!"


As I read it I learned of Monica and a little of her current situation. I was asked to help in any way possible to pitch in on a $245.00 fee/payment Monica had coming up asap. If she didn't have it paid by the next day at noon she would be headed back to jail! I felt lead to give and forward the email to some friends and family.


The next morning another updated email came in at 8am. It was letting me know that $95 in donations had come in. So that meant that we had 4 hours to raise $140 or my new sister in Christ would be headed right back to the big house at Christmas! I prayed and sent out a facebook post with my email asking for help from anyone who felt lead. Within 10 minutes I had 2 calls from friends who said they were wanting to help. The office that was taking the payment opened at 9am. By 9:30 am both of my friends were able to get through and each paid half!!


IT WAS PAID!!


When I got the email that it had been paid, God immediately told me that not only had the $245 been paid but that Monica had been "paid" for!! He wanted me to let her know that she was paid for by the blood of Christ!!


One of my favorite parts of this while ordeal was that the lady taking the phone calls and payment over the phone said what a real blessing it had been for her watching this unfold. She said she had never seen anything like it!


Amazing!


For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ - Matthew 25: 35-40


Dear heavenly Father, Thank you for your presence and for reminding us that "it's been paid". I pray for Dee and all the women who are involved in prison ministries around the world. I thank you for allowing me to be a small part in such a wonderful event! Open our eyes Lord to see that there are many ways to help a hurting world. I pray for each and every single person sleeping in a prison cell tonight.. Guide them to you Father, soften their hearts to hear your voice, free them from family bondage, heal them from past wounds and fill them with peace and joy right where they are. In Jesus precious precious name. Amen


Remember this season that thanks to that sweet and perfect baby boy who was born on Christmas day ALL your sins have been paid for! Every single one... great and small!


Psalms 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us