Passage Luke 15:11-32

 

The Parable of the Lost Son

 

¹¹Jesus continued; “There was a man who had two sons. ¹²The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate, ‘so he divided his property between them.

¹³“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him out in the fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men. ²⁰So he got up ad went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

²¹“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

²²But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. ‘So they began to celebrate.

²⁵“Meanwhile, the other son was in the field, when he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on ²⁷‘ your brother has come, ‘ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸“The older brother became angry and refused to go inside. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I have been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹“My son, ‘the father said, ‘you are always with me and everything I have is yours.

³²But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’

 

 

This is a story of someone who made wrong choices and ended up at rock bottom.  As addicts we tend to believe that we are not worthy of God’s grace and forgiveness, that our sins are to great to be forgiven. WE ARE WORTHY! God wants us to turn to him in our rock bottoms, He wants to run to us when He sees us coming and welcome us into His open arms. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in your time of need. When you think there is no one else, when you are rock bottom remember this parable and remember that our Father is there to wrap us in His robe. 

 

Events

·         115 inmates were sent Bible lessons and this number continues to grow each week by word of mouth behind the walls.

 

·         Broken Chains Ministry has hired on 2 part time grant writers, So far 3 grants have been filed.

 

 

·         Mrs. Johse is speaking September 26, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church -2216 Ave. H- in Bay City, Texas. There she will speak of all that the ministry does including; jail/prison ministry, A Mended Life…..Finding Christ In The Darkness 12 step recovery books, helping people to get into rehab centers, teaching the program outside as well as inside the walls, and visiting jails  and prisons.

 

 

·         September 26-29 2007 is the International Conference Coalition of Prison Evangelists where Annette Brockman, the founder, will be speaking about the 12 step recovery books she has written A Mended Life……Find Christ in The Darkness.