Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday February 4, 2010

I received a note from a woman who has suffered through much pain in her young life. She was regularly abused by two step fathers, her mother was murdered by the last one, and some 20 years later she was a witness at his execution. Do I need to share more gory details?

Heather Rice is writing her life story, I have read two short chapters. She now is trying to help young and older people who have been through it and wants to accompany some of my fellow prison workers and me to speak to prisoners. We are working this out as she has a story to tell.

I was especially moved by her mission statement:

"To provide hope to those hearts captive in despair."

This mission statement is powerful beyond the words when the path of her journey is factored into her purpose. Actions of grace and mercy are ever more powerful when the one offering them has been there.

My prayer is that we can get Heather into regular ministry at the Indianapolis and Rockville women's prison facilities. I have heard Heather speak briefly and I am sure the Lord will use her testimony to touch countless lives.

If the mission statement has a Messianic ring to it, this is because it is an echo of the words of Jesus Christ when he quoted two passages from Isaiah in Luke 4:18:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,"

In a special way that is beyond my understanding Jesus suffered everything that any human has ever or will ever suffer, yet without sin, He is able to help us.

Many is the heart this day that is captive in despair, the heart may be in a prison or a palace, because despair is not confined to circumstances. But then neither is Jesus Christ. He can/will help you wherever you are.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit.

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