Well, unless the Lord shows up to harpazo His Bride in the next 24-48 hours, it looks like I will be traveling from the the Southeast back to Kansas to have my say before a parole board that is reviewing the status of my nephew's incarceration. Almost 25 years ago, I walked in and found the brutally murdered bodies of my sister-in-law and niece. My nephew was the perpetrator. I will spare you the details other than to say he killed his own mom and sister and now he is up for parole. I suspect he would have been given the death penalty (and frankly should have been) had it not been for the fact that he was still a minor at the time the crimes were committed. I am mindful of God's Word, "...and such were some of you," and pray that he would find God's forgiveness through faith in Christ before he breathes his last, but there are still consequences to sin. In my opinion, he forfeited his right to any kind of "freedom", other than the freedom found in Christ alone, when he committed horrific, unspeakable premeditative murder. His mom and sister don't have a chance at freedom in this life ever again. I do not believe his mom knew the Lord, though I am hopeful that his sister may not yet have reached an age of accountability before the Lord. Share the gospel with him..yes. Let him know there is forgiveness available through the cross...yes. Walk out of jail and live a "normal" life for good behavior...NO! It dishonors and devalues the lives of his mom and sister. I would appreciate prayers for physical, emotional, and spiritual strength to walk this out. Grace on my travels. Wisdom to speak words of truth and power to the parole board. I will not be seeing my nephew at the public comment session. Even if I wanted to, there is huge red tape to get through that takes months of clearance before it can happen and I have not taken the necessary steps to even make that an option. I will try to relay a message to him through the parole board regarding the forgiveness of Christ, assuming they are willing to carry it. If you have never dealt with this sort of thing, (and you should thank God Almighty if that is the case), then you can not even begin to imagine what it is like. Oh how my heart longs to be gone from this wicked, fallen world and be somewhere where only redeemed sinners who want to obey God are permitted in. Prayers much appreciated. The session is from 10-12 on Monday 6/3. Maranatha!!! Oh wow, Watchman35 ... sorry you have to deal with this awful trial. :prayer-hands: that the Lord will give you peace and wisdom to say the right things during the court case and that you have a safe and trouble free trip. Praying also that your nephew will become a believer. Psalm 34 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. So sorry Watchman35 that you have had to go through all this and now go through more! I will be praying for your trip and salvation for your nephew! praying for you Watchman, and also for your nephew's salvation. :prayer-hands: Watchman sorry to say I missed this request.. praying all went well, God in His mercy, grant you peace in the mist of the storm. Remember Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” He walks beside you, lifting you up! :prayer-hands: Watchman, I am so sorry for what you have been through. I have been praying for you. Please let us know how you are doing. Thanks for your prayers. I am back "home", although truthfully no where on this fallen, evil planet feels like home to me anymore. I am worn out emotionally and spiritually. And now I am very sick physically. Figure that happened on the airplane where you breathe everyone else's crap for several hours. Probably would not be very Christlike to start using four letter words to describe how irritated and angry I feel about the never-ending struggles of this world, but I sure am tempted to! I have a sore throat, a headache, a stuffy/runny nose, and ears that hurt. Feels like torment to me. I hate the devil and everything associated with him that brings sickness, pain, and sorrow. Worked from home today and went to walkin clinic to get some antibiotics. Won't know the outcome of the parole decision until September. Lord God, how I hope to be long gone before then. Pentecost seems very high watch to me, but sometimes not sure if that's because I desperately want out of this wretched place or because there is an objective case to be made on its behalf. If there was an escape button I could opt for, I would push it a thousand times right now. comfort of Holy Spirit fill you Watchman
what a horrible, horrible situation to go through
