"Finding Jesus"

 "For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day." (Hebrews 4:8 KJV)

  ""I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me."" (Proverbs 8:17 NLT)

 Having witnessed the way things happened, it is very clear to me that I was searching, without even actually knowing who I was actually searching for. I kept that little New Testament with me, everywhere I went; I even slept with it under my pillow at night, just to have it close enough to read, first thing in the morning. 

 It was actually that Pocket Bible that was the thing which caused me to be transferred to another facility. As it was, I had a store, (we were allowed to have money in the early eighties,) and I sold cigarettes, candy bars, and instant coffee. I actually did pretty well, especially with the instant coffee. A tablespoon of the Folders Crystals went for $5.00; you would be surprised how many inmates wanted coffee before they went to bed. The only place where it was available at night was in the Officer's quarters. 

 Anywho, my wife came to visit this one Sunday, and I gave her a fist full of money. Most inmates were given money from their wives, but I was able to give her money that I earned from my store. Someone saw me hand her the money, and two guys jumped me later, trying to get money from me. All I had left was a $10.00 bill, but they didn't believe me. I had my New Testament Bible in my hand and was not willing to let it go; so, one of them grabbed hold of my windpipe, trying to force me to let go of it. They must have thought I had my money in my Bible. 

 Later that day, I had a call from the Office to roll up. As it was, someone who saw what happened had told one of the officers, and they were reprimanded for what they did. However, the officer that called me up said I needed to be transferred somewhere else, because the ones who jumped me think I told on them, and it wasn't safe for me to be there. 

 So that is how I ended up in the facility, where I meet Jesus! By the way, the 'Jesus' shown in this verse today is actually Joshua, as it was the rest that was spoken of in another time; however, Strong's has Jesus listed first, identifying His Name as meaning, "Jehovah is salvation," which was something I said before, that I share with J.W.'s whenever I ask if they really are witnesses of Jehovah!  

 When I went down into the cafeteria, I went in a sinner and came out a Saint! When you receive Jesus Christ into your heart, you are changed; your new life is secured in Heaven, waiting for your soul to arrive! Do you believe this is true? I surely hope that you do...

"If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:13-17 NLT)