CPM

Almost 500 years of time spent behind bars represented here and now on the outside these lives are flourishing and helping others. Such success stories! Praise God for second chances!

What a beautiful Spring morning! It calls all of us out of hibernation, which it feels like that’s the season we have been in. HE IS ALIVE! Praise Jesus for second chances and being able to begin again!

How about a WORD from Dick Gott!

THE BENEFIT OF WAITING PATIENTLY ON THE LORD
FCF DEVOTION FOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2021

In Psalm 40 there is a truth that David proclaims that reverberates over the centuries to even today. David declares a need in his own life that only by patiently waiting on the LORD could produce real fruit. And he declared this truth from a time of desperation in his or someone else's life. This Psalm shows how a desperate cry from someone in a pit is heard clearly by the LORD for an immediate reply. So turn with me to Psalm 40: 1-5 AMP: 'I waited patiently and expectantly for the LORD; and HE inclined to me and heard my cry. HE drew me up out of a horrible pit (a pit of tumult and of destruction) out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. And HE has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our GOD. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his refuge and trust, and turns not to the proud or to followers of false gods. Many, O LORD my GOD, are the wonderful works which YOU have done, and YOUR thoughts toward us: no one can compare with YOU! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered'. What an incredible passage of scripture, where David speaks of our GOD WHO is ready to answer our desperate cries to HIM as we cry from our own pit of despair. And there are many of us who have called on JESUS from our own pits! Look at how David describes this desperate persons place of torment. The text does not indicate how long this person has been in this desperate place. But my cry to Almighty GOD is from my horrible pit and is heard by GOD Himself. It is not how long I have been crying out desperately, but how my GOD is answering my desperation. Yes, HE heard my cry, and HE responded. What did Almighty GOD do for me? HE drew me out of that miry clay, and set my feet on a solid Rock. Yes, a solid rock, and HE established my going forward, even placing a song in my mouth, a song of praise to my GOD!! And my song of praise was clarion enough, that others will see and reverently fear my GOD, and place their trust in HIM! My GOD showed me in one simple act of faith, that blessed are we who have placed our faith and trust in HIM! In Psalm 40, David says it all out of his own despair.
In John 11, JESUS waits several extra days before going to the aid of HIS dear friend, Lazarus. When HE gets there Lazarus has been in the tomb for 4 days, and when JESUS asks Martha to have the stone rolled away from his tomb, she exclaims: 'Lazarus has been dead 4 days, he stinketh! Both Sisters of Lazarus are displeased with JESUS for waiting so long to come to his aid! In John 11:37, some there said 'Could not HE WHO opened a blind man's eyes prevented this man from dying'? In Verses 35-37 JESUS declares to Martha an eternal truth about Himself, when HE says to Martha: 'Your Brother shall rise again. Martha says: I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. JESUS said to her, I AM the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in ME although he may die, yet shall he live'! JESUS declares it all about Himself right there to Martha. HE alone is Resurrection and Life, and there is no other! And since I have been buried unto death with HIM in Baptism, I have also been raised to new Resurrection Life with HIM, to be with HIM forever! And that means that HIS abiding presence goes with me wherever I go; I am never without HIM! And if you belong to JESUS by faith today, you have HIS presence with you also. You can never be alone; lonely yes, but never alone! Please take these truths with you and savor the intimacy only JESUS CHRIST can provide for you in these sometimes lonely days. HE is your constant companion, and HE can bless your life and show you favor like no one else ever could. Just open your heart to HIM now and choose to invite HIM in wherever you find yourself today. HE will never disappoint you, NEVER! A promise from HIM!
Dick Gott

How about a WORD from Dick Gott

IF ANYONE SERVE ME, HE MUST CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ME!
FCF DEVOTION FOR AUGUST 18, 2021

There is a Verse tucked away in John 20:23-27, that has touched my life in a very rich way. And it was 38 years ago when I was in transition from my life's work, to what the living GOD was preparing me for our future. And maybe there is one of you out there who is sensing the tug of GOD on your life. You know, any one reading this who knows the LORD JESUS can step out and serve HIM where you are today! I was in limbo with the invitation in front of me to step into Buena Vista Correctional facility to start a new Bible Study. But let's look at John 20:23-27 from the Amplified: 'The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified and exalted. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a GRAIN OF WHEAT falls into the earth and dies, it remains (just one grain; it never becomes more but lives) by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it, but anyone who hates his life in the world will keep it to life eternal. (Whoever has no love for, no concern for, no regard for his life here on earth, but despises it, preserves his life forever and ever.) If anyone serves ME, he must continue to follow ME, and wherever I AM, there MY servant will be also. If anyone serves ME, the FATHER will honor him. Now MY soul is troubled and distressed. What shall I say? FATHER, save ME from this hour. But it was for this very purpose that I have come to this hour!' This is a deep teaching JESUS gives here near the end of HIS life before going to the cross here on earth, and HE uses a grain of wheat to illustrate What HE is about to undergo. And HE also uses this example to illustrate how this fits into our life of service to HIM also. This involves each one of us who have called upon JESUS to save us and restore our lives.
Grains of wheat have been found in ancient Egypt, still alive to themselves and, once placed in an atmosphere to grow, have ended producing a harvest of grain that sprouts from just one seed. This example JESUS gives us here is called the miracle of the harvest. And not only is JESUS the first fruit of that harvest. But by placing HIS life on a cross to be given as the first fruit of this harvest, HE likens this example to each one of us who will follow HIM in serving HIM while living out our lives on this earth. In Verse 26, JESUS first describes HIS call on a life to come and serve HIM. I heard HIS call, as many of you may have heard HIM call you to serve HIM right where you are now. When HE calls you, it is irrevocable! I heard that call several times during my early life, but there was no provision to serve HIM back then. But an irrevocable call means that HIS call is for us to continue to follow HIM as we grow in our relationship with HIM, conforming to HIS example before us. This call also means following HIM wherever and however HE would use us where HE plants us! JESUS says in Verse 26, 'where I AM there will MY SERVANT BE ALSO'. And this also means that where HE wants to use you, HE will also equip you for HIS service and HE will also be there where HE sends you before you get there! And lastly, for your willingness to step out in faith to HIS service, our Heavenly FATHER will honor you for serving the TRINITY. For we cannot be of genuine service without the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT actively at work in our lives! And I also chose to use Verse 27 where JESUS bares HIS soul anticipating what HE came to earth to do, that is lay down HIS life. What does this say to us? Whenever we are called by the LORD to service, there is always a cost, and HE is calling us to count that cost in Verse 25 where HE encourages us to consider what this may mean to our whole future with HIM. But I want to impress for you, that there is no greater honor and no more meaningful life than the one who serves the FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT wherever they may send you, or however they may use you. You will be blessed and highly favored in all that you put your hands to and there will be no cost that will come close to the benefits and blessings you receive. But you will never know this until you make yourself available for service. It is my earnest desire to see you receive this gift from HIM with excitement to see how the FATHER will use you for HIS glory in the years to come. You will be blessed like never before. LORD bless you for the courage to take this step of faith. Dick Gott