Last night, I took my guitar in hands and Hope in my mouth inside the Tulsa County Jail, with which I hope was the beginning of a long musical journey of doing prison outreaches. What a privilege it was.
There are few things as beautiful as receiving, bringing, or just seeing Love in a hopeless place. There are few experiences I have had that are equally as beautiful as singing "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" and being vocally accompanied by those who are regularly in physical handcuffs, or opening your eyes in mid-song to see condemned women in orange jumpsuits stand up with their eyes closed to sing with you to the same Father of second chances.
15 of those prisoners gave their lives to Jesus last night.
O Darkness,
look what the Light did now.
If I know anything in life that is worthwhile or containing of everlasting value, it's this. I don't care about money, I don't care about what I can get out of people, I don't care about fitting into society, I don't care about gaining possession of things merely for self, I don't care about people looking at me. Anything that is outside of sharing the greatest Thing anyone could ever find to someone without, is meaningless to me. Jesus, give me more of You to give to more of them. This hunger in me, it won't seem to stop.
There are few things as beautiful as receiving, bringing, or just seeing Love in a hopeless place. There are few experiences I have had that are equally as beautiful as singing "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" and being vocally accompanied by those who are regularly in physical handcuffs, or opening your eyes in mid-song to see condemned women in orange jumpsuits stand up with their eyes closed to sing with you to the same Father of second chances.
15 of those prisoners gave their lives to Jesus last night.
O Darkness,
look what the Light did now.
If I know anything in life that is worthwhile or containing of everlasting value, it's this. I don't care about money, I don't care about what I can get out of people, I don't care about fitting into society, I don't care about gaining possession of things merely for self, I don't care about people looking at me. Anything that is outside of sharing the greatest Thing anyone could ever find to someone without, is meaningless to me. Jesus, give me more of You to give to more of them. This hunger in me, it won't seem to stop.
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facebook has me spoiled - I can just click a "like" button on there. I'd be embarrassed to admit how long I looked for a like button on your blog.
ReplyDeleteHow does it work there? Do those women have someone visiting them regularly that can help with discipleship? Do they have access to bibles? Goodness, it's hard enough to stay on track when I get to go to church and hang out with other Christians. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to grow in Christ in an environment like prison.
Anyway, I'm so excited that you're so excited about this. Let us all know anytime you'll be going back, I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd love to be praying for you!