April 2009

The purpose of the monthly view is to reflect God’s love and glory. As Christians, we are mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.1

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My Latest Photo

Sometimes it isn’t appropriate to reflect God’s glory in prison. For instance, we are asked not to smile in our mug shots, because we’re supposed to be a hardened criminal. I comply, but I’m smiling on the inside because the Holy Spirit lives in me.

Many of you have requested a photo in the past. I offer this photo, taken on a recent visit. Jesus said, “Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”2

Monthly Visitors

This may be your first time to visit this website. If so, you are one of the five to eighteen thousand unique visitors monthly, totaling two to eight hundred thousand hits. I’m asking God to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.3

I realize that most people end up visiting this site because of my infamous past, only to find out that I’ve been born-again. Christ came into my heart in 1975. What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!4

E-Mail & Correspondence

Our website Administrator cannot answer all your e-mails, but please keep those encouraging praise reports coming. She does try to respond to many, but the website itself is intended to answer most of your questions. For instance, “Manson’s Right-Hand Man Speaks Out!” is a book of 208 Q’s & A’s covering ten different subjects.

Some of you write to my prison address, but it is difficult for me to respond to everyone. For everyone who writes, I do pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may the Holy Spirit empower you to understand how wide, how long, how high and how deep God’s love really is.5

Difficult Times

I know that times are difficult for many, so my heart goes out to you. One promise to confess loudly right now reminds us that “…those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”6

“Seek the LORD while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near. Let people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”7

The LORD says, “My thoughts are completely different from yours. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”8

“The rain and the snow come down from heaven and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where briers grew, myrtles will sprout up. This miracle will bring great honor to the LORD’s name; it will be an everlasting sign of His power and love.”9

God Sent His Word

I had many opportunities to receive God’s Word before that day in 1975 when Jesus Christ came into my heart, but my thoughts were not His thoughts. I rejected His promises, so the LORD could not accomplish all that He wanted to do. He desired my prosperity by giving me the ability to live in joy and peace.

How many times has God’s Word come to you during your lifetime? The LORD says, “He sent His Word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”10

It’s time for you to accept God’s Word [Jesus]! “Even to His own land and among His own people, He was not accepted. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God.

So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.”11

Happy Resurrection Day

Easter was once a pagan holiday, until it was converted to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. The date this year is April 12th, 2009. We worship on Sunday, the first day of the week, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead on that day.

This day could be the perfect time for you to make a commitment or recommitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. The scripture tells us, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Anyone who believes in Him will not be disappointed. Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They all have the same Lord, who generously gives His riches to all who ask for them. For ANYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”12

A Prayer For You ...

Our Father and our King, Creator of everything, You are the beginning and You are the end and all Your righteousness is seen in Your son, Jesus. We pray in His name, that the grace You have freely given will be accepted by those who read this message today. We seek Your will to be done in our lives and in the lives of those ministered to by this outreach. May the love of God we have experienced be found by those who recognize their need for the help only Your Son can give. We are not unaware of the schemes of Satan, and desire that the Light of Your Word and Your Son shines in dark places to expose the lies we have believed for too long. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life to all of us who had lost our way by denying Your truth. May He restore us to a proper relationship with You, Father. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Scripture References (New Living Translation):

1 2 Cor. 3:18
2 Matt. 5:15, 16
3 Eph. 1:17
4 2 Cor. 5:17
5 Eph. 3:17, 18
6 Isa. 40:31
7 Isa. 55:6, 7
8 Isa. 55:8, 9
9 Isa. 55:10-13
10 Psa. 107:20, 21
11 John 1:11-14
12 Rom. 10:9-13

Acknowledgement: A special thanks to Sherry for transcribing this months view!