A Group Like This

Does it seem sad to you that a woman would tell me that she would come back to jail just to have the close fellowship that she experiences in our small group? If she had been able to find such a group outside, maybe she wouldn't be incarcerated. God is doing wonderful work in her life. Changes are happening quickly, and she is yielding herself to God's changing power. She is being transformed by the renewing of her mind.

And some of the renewal is due to the group. We meet as regularly as we can -- barring lack of staff, or Christmas holiday interruptions. We welcome each other and remember the rules: Ephesians 4 and 5, don't speak unkindly to each other, don't war, lift each other up. Don't we have enough people trying to make us think we are not much more than garbage, unworthy of transformation? And we look at God's word -- go through a study -- and we pray for each other. And we are real with each other. It is possible to be real and kind, and we are all learning that. When the truth is spoken, it comes down on all who are present.

"I would come back in here if I could. I want a group like this on the outside."

And there is a group for her on the outside, but it won't be the same. Not everyone will understand, not everyone will experience the same things she is experiencing. She may imagine that they are judging her, and I pray that they will not. We accept lies about ourselves when they are on the tip of our own tongues.

So we remind each other of who we really are in Christ. You are God's child. He is a good God. He wants the best for you. You are His sister. He is the first born of many brothers and sisters.

I pray that she will allow herself to ministered to on the outside, and that she doesn't run to her addiction of choice the minute she gets out. Just one minute. Wait one minute and thank God for His mercy. And then thank Him again. And again. And again until all the NOWS merge into TODAY and ALL WEEK LONG and A YEAR FROM NOW.

Pray for those coming out of jail today that they will be able to maintain the decisions they made for Christ on the inside.