Does Persecution Still Exist?

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  (Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV)

For the last few days, I’ve pondered about what to write about persecution.  Lord, what would You have me write?  Many of us, who have been blessed to live in the United States, are often ignorant of the persecution and crimes committed against Christians.  We often, mistakenly think that the persecution of Christians and Jews is a thing of the past, but that is terribly foolish and wrong, for many of our brothers and sisters around the world are being persecuted, even now, as you read this message.

Indeed, I believe that there is coming a day, when even U.S. citizens will be persecuted for their faith in Christ.  In fact, that day has already begun.

⁹ “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. ¹¹ But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ¹³ And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  (Mark 13:9-13 NKJV)  

We are living in dangerous times.  You don’t have to look far to see how children have turned against their parents, and parents have turned against their children.  In other countries, we’ve seen how families from other beliefs, (Hindu, Buddhist, and Islam for example) have turned against their own loved ones, by disinheriting them, beating and torturing them, and even killing them, simply because they believe in Jesus.  

The chart listed above, shows the statistics for 2018, for persecuted Christians around the world.  It is eye opening, and if you are a child of God, then this should concern you, because those persecuted Christians are your brothers and sisters in Christ.  I got this information from the following website:

www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/ 

According to these statistics, approximately 8 Christians die daily, for their faith, which totals 255 Christians monthly.  For those who live in the U.S., can you imagine waking up each day, not knowing whether this is the day that someone will betray you for your faith in Christ?  Can you imagine wondering, throughout the day, whether you may be murdered because you are a follower of Christ?  The statistics tell us that 104 people each month, which is a little more than 3 people daily, are abducted for their faith.  Imagine, being snatched from your home, your place of employment, or from the streets, because you are a Christian.  As if this isn’t bad enough, 180 women are raped, sexually harassed, or forced into unwanted marriages every month.  That’s 6 women who are raped, forced into unwanted, mostly abusive marriages and sexually harassed every day, just because they love Jesus.  Imagine the fear, shame and pain that these women endure!  66 churches every month are attacked, and 160 Christians are arrested and imprisoned for their faith, without benefit of a trial.

Beloved reader, don’t just sigh and shake your head.  Do you know that if you are a believer, you, too, may one day suffer persecution?  I don’t share this with you to frighten you, but so that you won’t be caught unaware.  Do you know that here, in the U.S., Christians are being sued for standing up for their faith, which is our first amendment right?

You don’t often hear about these things on broadcast news media outlets, or in most newspapers, because defending the rights of Christians is not part of their agenda.  Instead, many are trying to silence Christians, because true believers refuse to embrace sinful lifestyles, such as abortion, adultery, fornication and homosexuality, to name just a few.  Christians, such as our Vice-President, Mike Pence, are mocked and ridiculed for our beliefs.

Nonbelievers claim that Christians are narrow-minded and intolerant, and yet, they are the ones who are trying to silence us.  All too often, debates end in name calling and false accusations.  They do this because, “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.”  (John 3:20 NLT)  

Beloved, in these last days, don’t be shocked by the things that are happening in the world around you, and in your world.  For Jesus warned us about this…

¹² “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are My followers. ¹³ But this will be your opportunity to tell them about Me. ¹⁴ So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, ¹⁵ for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you! ¹⁶ Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you.¹⁷ And everyone will hate you because you are My followers. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish! ¹⁹ By standing firm, you will win your souls.”  (Luke 21:12-19 NLT)

Indeed, my friend, I suggest that we shouldn’t be surprised that people hate us because of our faith.  We should instead, be surprised by the ones who don’t hate us.  So, what can we do about this persecution of God’s people?  There is one thing that every one of us can do, no matter where we live, or what our circumstances are.  We can pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, who are suffering. The Apostle Paul even let us know what to pray for our brothers and sisters, and so did the writer of Hebrews… 

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.  

¹⁹ And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.²⁰ I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for Him, as I should.  (Ephesians 6:18-20 NLT)

Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.  (Hebrews 13:3 NLT)

Jesus promised that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are persecuted for His name’s sake, and that they will receive a great reward.  Beloved, let’s be active in our prayers for our persecuted brethren, and remember, you or I could very well be the next one to be persecuted for our faith.  And if, you or I do suffer from persecution one day, hold tight to Jesus’ promise, and may we have the same attitude that Peter had…  

¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 

¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.  (1 Peter 4:12-19  NKJV)

Links to sites about Christian persecution:

• Open Doors
• The Voice of the Martyrs
• Christian Forums

© 2019
Cheryl A. Showers

God Speaks ~ Hebrews 1:1-4

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Grace Church The Blog

1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son He created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. When He had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave Him is greater than their names. ~ Hebrews 1:1-4 — NLT ~

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. Enoch walked in close fellowship with God, until He took him… God spoke  to Noah and told him to build an ark… God spoke to Abraham when He appeared before him as an angel of the Lord, promising to bless all of mankind through his Seed… He spoke to Moses through the fire of a burning bush, then later, He spoke to him audibly… God spoke to Joshua, encouraging him to “Be strong and courageous…” He spoke to each of the judges who were willing to listen to Him… He spoke to Samuel in the night, calling him by name, “Samuel! Samuel!”… He spoke to King David and to King Solomon… He spoke to Elijah in a still small voice…

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. God used to speak to His people through the prophets, but when Christ came, things changed. Now, He speaks to us through His Son, Jesus. Think about this, God speaks through the One who created the universe with Him…

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Biblical Truth

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. ~ John 1:1-5 — NLT ~

Beloved readers, do you get it? God speaks to us through the Word! He speaks to us through His Word! He, who spoke all of creation into existence… He who spoke our lives into existence, also speaks to us through His Son, the Word of God… He speaks to us through Christ, who “… radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God…” He speaks to us through Jesus, who “… expresses the very character of God…” God now speaks to us through His Son, “… who sustains everything by the mighty power of His command…”

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. 17 He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. ~ Colossians 1:15-17 — NLT ~

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RayNoah

How amazing and how wonderful that the God of the universe, the Holy One of Israel speaks to us through His Son and Heir, Jesus Christ, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords! What an honor this is! It used to be that He only spoke to prophets, but now, beloved readers, He speaks through His Son Jesus to ordinary people like you and me! Imagine, hearing the voice of God Almighty as He speaks to us through His Son!

“Oh,” some may say, “I’ve never heard God speak to me.” But according to His Word, He does speak to , through His Son. Could it be that those who don’t hear Him speak simply don’t recognize His voice? Let’s see what God’s Son has to say about this…

2 “But He who enters by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep. 3 To Him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ~ John 10:2-5 — NKJV ~

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Fr Ed’s Place

Do you see, beloved readers? If you are a child of God, (a.k.a. – a part of the Good Shepherd’s {Jesus’} flock) then when He speaks, you will recognize His voice. Indeed, He will call you by name, just as God called the prophet Samuel so many years ago, just as a shepherd calls his sheep. For Christ Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and He calls us by our name, and when He speaks to us, if we are truly one of His sheep, the Spirit within us compels us to follow Him and obey Him.

For you see, beloved reader, when Christ “… cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven…” This same Jesus, through whom God speaks to regular people like you and me, now sits at the right hand of Almighty God in heaven, reigning and ruling with His Father. Isn’t it wonderful and amazing to know that this same Jesus, who is far greater than the angels, and whose name is above all other names, would speak to someone such as you or me?

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. ~ Acts 4:12 — NLT ~

9 Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Philippians 2:9-11 — NLT ~

After reading all of this, what can we conclude from our study of the first four verses of Hebrews 1? 

1. We can know that although God used to speak to us through the prophets, He now speaks to us through His Son, Jesus.
2. We know that Jesus is heir to everything, according to God’s promise.
3. We know that God created the universe through His Son, Jesus.
4. We know that Jesus radiates God’s own glory.
5. We know that the Son of God reveals the very character of God.
6. We also know that Christ sustains everything by the mighty power of His command. 
7. We know that after Jesus cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
8. We know that God’s Son is far greater than the angels.
9. And finally, we learned that Jesus’ name, given to Him by God, is far greater than any other name in heaven, on the earth below, under the seas, under the earth, or anywhere else in the universe!

Hallelujah! Isn’t it amazing how much we learned about the Lord and how He speaks to us in just four verses? I can’t wait to continue with the next part! 

Please bear with me, because I’m not sure how much writing I’m going to be able to do in the next few weeks, as my daughter-in-law (I will refer to her as my daughter from hereon, because that is what she is to me.) just had brain surgery, and I’m going to help care for six of my grandchildren. For those of you who have faith that our awesome and wonderful God and Father hears our prayers and answers them, I ask you to please pray for my son, daughter and children.  

Please pray that my daughter heals quickly, and completely, and that she would know just how precious she is to her husband (my son), my husband and me, and everyone who knows her. Pray also that my grandchildren feel God’s love for them, and that they would see how awesome and mighty He is, as He heals their mommy. Please also pray for peace within their home, because this is such a difficult time for all involved, and we all know how the enemy likes to attack when everyone is at their weakest point…

Thank you to each and every one of you for your prayers and for your patience, as my posts for this Bible study will be worked around my beautiful grandchildren’s schedules, and you can imagine how busy my husband and I will be as we help care for those precious children!

Again, thank you and may God bless each one of you!

© 2014
Cheryl A. Showers

Updated Update on Mom – 1/31/2012

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My Beloved Readers, Followers, Friends, Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

My mother suffered a mild heart attack last night. Please continue to pray for Mom, my sister, and me. Mom is really having a difficult time, with the dementia, loss of independence, and failing health. She must be so scared. It breaks my heart, because I love her so much, and I hate to see her suffering.

My sister also needs your prayers and love. She is carrying a lot on her plate, between caring for Mom, as her POA, and work, and her family. Please pray that she feels the Lord’s love, strength and comfort during this difficult time.

Image Credit: http://lessonsinashell.blogspot.com/2011/04/prayers-and-praises_27.html

Please also continue to pray for me… I love both my sister and my mom very much, and want to be there for them and help them as much as possible, but pain is hindering me. Please pray for the Lord’s strength so I can be there with them and help them both.

I’m going to try to rest some now – much love to you all. I am so thankful to be a part of this great family of believers, who continue to edify and pray for me though we have never seen one another face to face. Much love to you all!

God bless you,
Cheryl

Update on Mom – 1/31/2013

My beloved friends and brothers and sisters in Christ,

Thank you for the prayers that you are lifting for my mother. We didn’t have a good day today. It started off pretty good, but it soon took a turn for the worst.

Mom became very angry and frustrated, and I became frustrated and hurt too, because she wouldn’t let me help her. She said some hateful things, and I let it get to me… In hindsight, I now know that she was starting to feel worse, and she was getting frustrated, because she wasn’t able to do the things that we all take for granted, like feeding herself and caring for her own personal needs. She was feeling weak and probably frightened, which caused her to snap at those closest to her… my sister this morning, and me this afternoon.

Because of our past history, I took it personally, and missed what was really going on. Tonight, at around 9:30, she went into acute distress, having difficulty breathing. She had to have another breathing treatment, and more tests and meds.

Please continue to pray for Mom, my sister, and me. Pray that the Lord gives me wisdom to recognize what is really going on, so that I don’t take things so personally, when she says hurtful things. I love her, and I know she loves my sister and me too. This dementia can be both a blessing and a curse.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers… I know that the fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much, and if two or more will touch and agree, according to God’s will, it will be done.

Much love to you all,
Cheryl

Update on Mom

My beloved readers, followers and friends,

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Ladybee2009/Thank%20You/
ThankYouforPrayingforMe.jpg

It’s about 1:15am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, and I am getting ready for bed, but I just wanted to give you a quick update on my mom. Her fever is down, praise God! However, she still has some “crackling” in her lungs, and she is coughing now. My sister and I are praying and believing that the coughing is a good thing, because it is breaking up the fluid in her lungs. 

Please continue to pray for her. She asked me if Dad came to see her last night, and I said no, and then, later today, she asked my sister why Dad hasn’t been to see her. My sister didn’t want her to think that Dad didn’t care for her, so she reminded mom (who has dementia) that Dad had passed away.

Please pray for my sister too, because I know that was hard for her to do, and she really misses Dad (who died more than a year ago) too. I love her. She is a good, strong woman, who has been a good daughter to Mom and Dad, taking care of them on her own, when I couldn’t be there for them. I pray that the Lord will let me be a blessing to both my sister and my mother.

At any rate, this has been a difficult day for Mom. Dementia can sometimes be both a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing, because Mom is able to forget her grief a lot of the time, but it’s also a curse, because whenever she is reminded of Dad’s passing, it’s as though she begins to grieve all over, and for her, it’s like it just happened.

I need to go to bed now, but thank you for praying, and please don’t stop. We all need your prayers.

I pray that the Lord continues to bless each one of you, my beloved brothers and sisters, for sacrificing your time to pray for my family…

One final thing – although I hadn’t planned to write anything today, the Lord gave me a strong word, which I posted a few minutes ago. Please pray for the word that He released through me tonight, that it will touch the hearts of each one who reads it, and accomplish all that He has sent it to accomplish.

Much love to you all,
Cheryl

Please Pray

Please pray for my mother, who is in the hospital. You never realize how much you love someone, until they are sick. I may not be posting much this week due to her illness, but I’ve already written the Share the Love post, which I will post on Friday, Feb. 1.

Much love to you all, and thank you in advance for your prayers!

Love,
Cheryl

Prayer Requests – Calling All Prayer Warriors!

Greetings to My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord!

http://www.soulwinning.info/books/prison_ministry/12.htm

I wrote to you a couple of weeks ago, asking you to pray for the women I minister to, who are in jail, and today I went to minister to them again. I told them that I had posted their prayer requests on my blog, and that men and women throughout this country and around the world were praying for them by name, not because of my popularity, but because the Lord loves them, and had moved on your hearts to do so. Many of them began to weep as I told them this, and they once again passed a sheet of paper around the room so that all could receive prayers on their behalf from you.

So, I come to you again, dear brothers and sisters, on behalf of the female inmates that I minister to, asking that you minister to them also, in prayer. Below is the list of their names and their prayer requests. I don’t ask that you necessarily pray for their requests, but that you pray God‘s will for their lives, knowing that sometimes, it is not His will for them to be released, no matter how much they might want it, because He knows best what they need. I also ask you to keep me lifted in prayer so that I can minister to them according to His will, not mine or theirs.

• Alfreda – “I have a court date Dec. 10th – pray that I go home and also pray for Quincy, Danielle, Davena & Marcus that they look to God”
• Carolyn – “Prayer“
• Heather – “Prayer”
• Jena – “Adn Yonna, Christian, prayer for me & my children”
• Kelly – “Guidance for my husband in taking care of our daughter while I’m not there, my sons – strength for them to get through this time without me”
• Bette – “Please pray for my family”
• Tammy – “Pray for my steady path upon my release this week.”
• Lakisha – “Pray for my family and friends. Also that I will be ok in the world and make it through alright! God bless!”
• Shawnoer – “Prayer for my kids”
• Qualesha – “Pray for my family, friends & myself to get outta here & do right & stay blessed & my son”
• Grace – “Pray for my 6 children and my big brother, lil brother and kids father and please pray for me a parole appeal or hearing”
• Susan – “For God’s will…”
• Wendy – “Sarah, Jacob, Josh”
• Mary – Please pray that I can walk out of here Dec. 4th and, that you can please save my children. And that I pass my G.E.D. tests, and that when I leave that God will provide my kids and I with a good home.”
• Allison – “Please answer my prayers for my son, Jeremy, this Christmas & God blessing my loved ones. Keep me free from addiction!”
• Kimberly – “Break me free from the power of addiction. Let me love the Lord first and foremost.”
• Monica – “Please pray for me and my three children, Isaiah, Ashley & Robert”
• Anjoli – “O help me pray move on my soul amen”

http://bibledude.net/jesus-the-middle-eastern-storyteller-chapter-6-finding-the-lost/

I ask you to keep these women in prayer for the next few weeks, until I post an updated report again. For Anjoli, please especially lift her up, because she does not have all of  her mental faculties, and other inmates can be cruel to her, encouraging her to act out, and she mistakenly thinks they are laughing with her, not understanding that she is the butt of their jokes, and so she tries to please them. Then, when others disapprove of her actions, she acts out because she feels rejected, which leads to a vicious cycle of acting out and her getting in trouble.

Again, to each of you, I truly appreciate the prayers you are lifting up on behalf of these women in prison, and so does the Lord…  Don’t forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies. (Hebrews 13:3 NLT)

May the Lord bless each one of you for your faithfulness in praying for this list of women!

Love In The Precious Name of Jesus,
Cheryl

URGENT Plea for Prayer – UPDATE

This is an update on the prayer request I posted on November 8, 2012. Evangelist Joy Mifflin went home to be with the Lord at approx. 3:00pm on November 9, 2012. Please take the time out of your busy schedule this week to lift her family and her church family up in prayer, as they grieve the loss of their beloved child, minister, and friend. I truly believe that people can feel when they are being prayed for, and for all of you who do join me in praying for this family, I give you my heartfelt thanks, and one day, when I see you in glory, I will hug each one of you and personally thank you! Many blessings to each of you.

In Christ’s Undying, Holy, Matchless, Amazing Love, I Remain,
Your Sister Cheryl

I’m sending a shout out for all Prayer Warriors to join me in praying for Evangelist Joy Mifflin, an awesome young woman of God, who has been stricken with cancer. Doctors have given up, but her mother and father have not, and they are asking men and women of God to unite together in praying for this beautiful young woman. They are taking her off the respirator tomorrow, so we’re seeking God for a miracle for Joy and for her family in Jesus’ name! Thanks to all who will touch and agree in prayer with me!!!

Prayer Requests – Calling All Prayer Warriors!

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left.

Then the King will say to those on the right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? When did we ever see You sick or in prison, and visit You?’

And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!’

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“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me anything to drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.’

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You?’

And He will answer, ‘I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46 NLT)

Greetings to all of my brothers and sisters in the Lord who are reading this post! May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He cause His face to shine on you and be gracious and lift the light of His countenance on you and give you peace!

I’m writing to you on behalf of the women that I minister to in prison. On Sunday, when I ministered in jail, one of the women took a piece of paper and began writing, while I preached. She then passed it to the woman next to her, who then passed it to the woman next to her, and so on. I didn’t catch on at first, because a lot of times, unfortunately, the women can behave worse than children during a church service, and on this day, this was the case with many of the women in the service.

But as the paper began to make its way around the room, it dawned on me what was going on. Now I’ve been ministering in this jail since 2003, and I’ve had girls write down a prayer request and bring it to me at the end of the service, but I never had a prayer sheet go around the entire room, initiated by one of the inmates. I was blessed and honored when the woman who had started the list waited until I had finished ministering, and then handed me the sheet, asking me to pray for the women.

I assured the women that I would indeed pray for them, and that I would also bring their requests before other prayer warriors and ask them to join me in prayer for these women. Therefore, I’m writing this letter to ask you to join with me in prayer for each of the women on my list, which I will write below.

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All I ask of you is that as you read their names (first names only because God knows who they are) and their requests, pray for them by name. I’m including their requests exactly as they’ve written them, because these are the prayers they requested, however, having said that, I’m asking you to pray as the Spirit leads. Many of these women don’t have a close relationship with the Lord (actually, most don’t have any relationship with the Lord), and one thing I’ve learned over the years, is that their prayers are not always what the Lord wants for them, so I’ve learned to pray as the Spirit leads me to pray for them, and ask for God’s will for their lives…

• Alfreda – for a court date
• Susan – for my teenaged daughter, while her mother is in jail
• Marsha – pain relief, my addiction, my family (2 daughters)
• Kathy – addiction
• Megan – addiction
• Elizabeth – addiction
• Jena – addiction
• Jqueesha – for everyone & I go home Jan 7th
• Larisha – pray for my family and me. And that I’d do good on my G.E.D. test Nov. 8th and pray that I maintain and accomplish my goals in life. Thank you! “God Bless All”
• S. – my kids
• M. – my court date on the 15th in Jesus name
• Qualesha – to go home before Thanksgiving to keep a head of protection over my family & once I get home that I can get myself together for myself & my son
• Debbie – beer addiction
• Tammy – addiction; loneliness
• Kelly – my children, sister Heather, all my nephews, & my husband
• Wendy – my kids – Sarah & Jacob, my family, friends & cell mates

If you feel led, please print this list out and pray for these women as often as the Lord places them on your heart. If you only feel led to pray for them this one time, that’s appreciated too. I love these women, and it’s my heart’s desire to see them walking in complete freedom, totally unbound from their spiritual chains… I want to see them walk in freedom while they’re still in jail!

Thank you for agreeing with me in prayer for these women!

In the love of Jesus I remain,
Your Sister Cheryl

© 2012
Cheryl A. Showers