A TROPHY OF GOD'S GRACE
congratulations to howard and mary, his brand new bride!
“Because I’ve grieved and tasted bitter loss, because I’ve stumbled carrying my cross, because I’ve learned of Christ’s sufficiency, I’ll show His grace to others just like me.”
Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace
Yesterday, I attended a celebration for Howard, the man with me in the picture. We were celebrating his release from 20 years in prison. Honestly, it was more like a revival service than a celebration because Jesus was the center of attention. I wept for joy the entire 4 hours I was there. The atmosphere was so charged with blessing and presence of the Lord that it sounded as though the angels joined in with our singing! The harmony among us was like a glimpse of Heaven.
I will never forget the night that I walked into the correctional institution where I ministered and the first thing I asked was where was Howard, our beloved Chaplain’s clerk? (He was always the one who emceed the services.) “He’s gone!”, one man said. “Gone! Gone where?” I asked. The man told me he had been transferred to another camp. My heart sank. I was so overwhelmed with sadness! In my eyes, this man was the pastor of that prison unit! I was so stunned, I felt like excusing myself and going home. The place would never be the same. It never was. You see, here was a man, though he believed that he rivaled Apostle Paul for the position of chief of sinners, was transformed by the love, grace, mercy and power of Jesus Christ!
Some talk about prison ministry lightly saying, “Oh, they just have jailhouse religion.” Sadly there are many that just have church-house religion! This man is a beautiful trophy of the transforming grace of God . Only the Lord knows how many will be in Heaven because of Howard’s witness! He loves Jesus so much because he has been forgiven so much! I too, share his marvel of God’s grace! I just can’t wait to have him preach in my pulpit! Friend, where would you and I be without the grace of God upon our lives?
Every blessing!
—Tom