CHRIST FOR PRISONERS WEEKLY BULLETIN
Sunday, June 3, 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It was in June 1967 [40 years ago] when I was licensed to preach the Gospel of Christ. Carol and I have continued since. There are many times that the devil has tried to stop us and even almost succeeded but God has been so faithful to me. I am thankful today for all He has done.

I always remember a card I received from my step-dad when I went to prison in 1960. Inside the card were the simple words, “Remember, He is always there and can be reached with just a prayer.” I have found that to be so very true. When it seems like everything and everyone is against me, He is there. When I have felt I couldn’t go on, He is there. When I have been completely broke, He is there. Three words from 1 Corinthians 10:13 are “…God is faithful...” has stuck with me all these years.

I have found something wonderful in God’s Word. I can rely on finding peace, comfort, joy and many great promises in it. Many years ago some friends turned against me and even quit talking to me. I didn’t know what to do. I felt that God had spoken to me about something and confirmed it with His Word. However, it was not what they felt. As I sought the Lord in the following months I found a new hope in God’s Word. I memorized 130 verses of Scripture in 90 days.

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
⁸ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Hebrews 13:8 (RVR)
⁸ Jesucristo es el mismo ayer, y hoy, y por los siglos.

Yesterday He loved me; Today He’s just the same.
How long will that continue, Forever, Praise His name.

The habit of memorizing God’s Word has remained with me for the past 30+ years. Do you memorize God’s Word? If not, you need too start. Don’t say, “I am too old to remember things” as I have heard some say. I also forget things. Sometimes, I go into a room and forget what I went in there for. I even turn around 2 or 3 times hoping that will help. Have you ever done that? I am sure you have. Don’t let the devil tell you, you cannot memorize God’s Word. You can!!!

Psalms 119:9 (KJV)
⁹ Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psalms 119:9 (RVR)
⁹ Bet ¿Con qué limpiará el joven su camino? Con guardar tu palabra.

Psalms 119:11 (KJV)
¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalms 119:11 (RVR)
¹¹ En mi corazón he guardado tus dichos, Para no pecar contra ti.

Psalms 119:16 (KJV)
¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psalms 119:16 (RVR)
¹⁶ Me regocijaré en tus estatutos; No me olvidaré de tus palabras.

Someone recently told me that I had aged 10 years in the last year, because of some things that have happened. Let me give you a Word, “The Lord is the strength of my life!” and “The joy of the Lord is my strength!” Again, Psalm 119:

Psalms 119:50 (KJV)
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me [given me life].

Psalms 119:50 (RVR)
⁵⁰ Ella es mi consuelo en mi aflicción, Porque tu dicho me ha vivificado.

I would love to give you some “highlights” of the last 40 years but you might not agree with me, because some of the low times, have become highlights. When Paul was speaking about his life he told of being stoned, ship-wrecked, left for dead, but not in a negative way.

One highlight of my life is the day I met Carol. She told me about Jesus and has continued to encourage me for 43 years. When I wanted to give up she has “put her foot down” and said, “No way!”

There is a blessing in doing what God wants you to do. The Bible says, “If you know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them.” [John 13:17]

Just know this; I am blessed, much blessed.

My prayer for you:

Colossians 1:9-11 (KJV)
⁹ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
¹⁰ That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
¹¹ Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Colossians 1:9-11 (RVR)
⁹ Por lo cual también nosotros, desde el día que lo oímos, no cesamos de orar por vosotros, y de pedir que seáis llenos del conocimiento de su voluntad en toda sabiduría e inteligencia espiritual,
¹⁰ para que andéis como es digno del Señor, agradándole en todo, llevando fruto en toda buena obra, y creciendo en el conocimiento de Dios;
¹¹ fortalecidos con todo poder, conforme a la potencia de su gloria, para toda paciencia y longanimidad;

Ephesians 1:16-18 (KJV)
¹⁶ Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Ephesians 1:16-18 (RVR)
¹⁶ no ceso de dar gracias por vosotros, haciendo memoria de vosotros en mis oraciones,
¹⁷ para que el Dios de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, el Padre de gloria, os dé espíritu de sabiduría y de revelación en el conocimiento de él,
¹⁸ alumbrando los ojos de vuestro entendimiento, para que sepáis cuál es la esperanza a que él os ha llamado, y cuáles las riquezas de la gloria de su herencia en los santos,

Ephesians 3:16-20 (KJV)
¹⁶ That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:16-20 (RVR)
¹⁶ para que os dé, conforme a las riquezas de su gloria, el ser fortalecidos con poder en el hombre interior por su Espíritu;
¹⁷ para que habite Cristo por la fe en vuestros corazones, a fin de que, arraigados y cimentados en amor,
¹⁸ seáis plenamente capaces de comprender con todos los santos cuál sea la anchura, la longitud, la profundidad y la altura,
¹⁹ y de conocer el amor de Cristo, que excede a todo conocimiento, para que seáis llenos de toda la plenitud de Dios.
²⁰ Y a Aquel que es poderoso para hacer todas las cosas mucho más abundantemente de lo que pedimos o entendemos, según el poder que actúa en nosotros,

God bless you, We love you – Pastor Dave