January 17, 2019 – Click here to listen
I received a letter from a young woman who is incarcerated in a Texas prison last week. She’d read my book Miracle on Luckie Street which is part of a reading incentive program for inmates statewide in Texas. She sent me her certificate of accomplishment along with her letter.
She told me that her mother was brutally murdered by her best friends ex-fiancé. The same guy had poured gas on her and around her house and set it on fire and she narrowly escaped being burned alive by running outside where she found her mother’s body.
She called 911 and the guy was tracked down about eight miles away and after a five-hour standoff with the police he surrendered. Her best friend’s body was found in the bed of his pickup truck. This incident nearly destroyed her life and unfortunately 3 months later she was a homeless drug addict full of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She began to suffer horrible nightmares and initially turned to meth to stay awake and avoid them. Of course, she soon became addicted and with her mother and best friend gone she felt all alone.
She attempted suicide. Miraculously when she held a gun to her head it misfired.
She continued her drug use and it caught up with her and she became incarcerated. Three days after her incarceration she gave her life over to God. She wrote: “Today almost two years later, even though I am still incarcerated, I am free!” She told me she intends to become a minister with a new non-profit called: C.A.S.T. Citizens Against Sex Trafficking – showing God’s love to women who have been trafficked.
She completed her letter by writing: “At one time I thought I was hopeless and beyond the help of God. I thought that with my mom and best friend gone that I was all alone. I now know that I belong to a huge family of believers. Your book gave me hope. Thank you!”
She then asked me to please write her sometime and give her pointers on how to write a book. Doesn’t look like she needs much help to me. Thank you, Jesus, for saving this girls life. The Bible tells us that our hearts are purified by fiery trials and tribulations and we should not despise them. I’ve had my fair share and it “ain’t no fun;” however, those purified by God shine with the beauty of Christ the same as gold and silver . . .Something to remember when we are in the furnace . . . Lord God almighty please allow this young woman’s fiery trials to bring honor and glory to your glorious name and help people all over the world.
Proverbs 17:3
Silver and God are purified by fire, but God purifies hearts.