"God's Plans for Merle and Samantha"
I visited Merle (age 23) and Samantha (age 21) at the county jail. Merle will go on to prison for 10 years as a repeat, violent offender. Samantha also is a repeat offender, but of less serious crimes. She should be out of jail within a few months. But the effects, beyond being in jail, are bad for her, too. The state took away her two younger children and placed them in foster care. Samantha hopes that they will not be permanently taken away as her oldest child was a few years ago.
Since about 13 years old, both Merle and Samantha have often been incarcerated --- at a juvenile detention hall, a boot camp, a group home, and now jail and prison. They lived for short times with their families, but their families struggled with much alcoholism and violence. Their families did not nurture the children as God wants them to. Is it a hopeless and purposeless future for them? It will be, without God's help.
But God has good plans for Merle's and Samantha's lives, and for the lives of her children, and for their families. These good plans can be reached, by God's grace. God said in Jeremiah 29:11 of the Bible, 'I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That is a guarantee for each of us humans as we are made in the image and
Since about 13 years old, both Merle and Samantha have often been incarcerated --- at a juvenile detention hall, a boot camp, a group home, and now jail and prison. They lived for short times with their families, but their families struggled with much alcoholism and violence. Their families did not nurture the children as God wants them to. Is it a hopeless and purposeless future for them? It will be, without God's help.
But God has good plans for Merle's and Samantha's lives, and for the lives of her children, and for their families. These good plans can be reached, by God's grace. God said in Jeremiah 29:11 of the Bible, 'I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That is a guarantee for each of us humans as we are made in the image and
likeness of God. We can start to experience those plans by personally receiving his grace, and then committing our lives to Him.
"Samantha and Merle, your lives can be good, even in prison! Because of God's grace, love, and forgiveness, your life's experiences may be used by God as your life-story, as he reaches out to other people, through you. You can be God's special ambassador --- a bearer of Good News to those who feel lost and broken." That would be good, and, it's Truth! --- Fred Wilgenburg, www.peacewithinreach.com, www.u-and-peacewithinreach.com.
"Samantha and Merle, your lives can be good, even in prison! Because of God's grace, love, and forgiveness, your life's experiences may be used by God as your life-story, as he reaches out to other people, through you. You can be God's special ambassador --- a bearer of Good News to those who feel lost and broken." That would be good, and, it's Truth! --- Fred Wilgenburg, www.peacewithinreach.com, www.u-and-peacewithinreach.com.
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