Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Search Archive Print This Article Letters from prison Monday, April 12, 1999 John 3:6-7 "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'" Last night I met an inmate named Larry at Danville Correctional Center. We meet with 25-40 inmates on alternate Sunday nights in the prison chapel. We sing and pray with them. Larry's wife died several years ago. Before she passed away she asked Larry to promise that he would keep writing his kids. So Larry writes every week to his kids - to Larry Jr, Thomas, Andre, Tasha, Sandy, Cheryl, Denice, Angela, and Jenice. Nine letters every week. The problem is that none of his children are writing back. None of them. He has not heard from them or seen them for ten years. Larry is honoring his promise to his wife. I don't know what happened in the past, but now he is doing what he can to be a father to his kids. When four of us gathered in a circle around Larry, and put our hands on his shoulders and his head and prayed for him, respect for his commitment was apparent in our prayers. Larry has been "born again." Out of his life with Jesus comes the fruit of the Spirit - a newer, deeper patience and self control (Galatians 5:22). This enables him to write those nine letters every week with joy, with peace that he might never otherwise have in the silence he receives in return. Lord, today I open my spirit to yours. Let the wind blow. "; Add      Edit    Delete