I remembered the recreation coordinator asking me to serve as a coach for our institutional basketball team,I hesitated.How could I be a role model when mistakes littered my past,when I still struggled, stumbled, and slipped into old bad habits?God helped me form relationships with these total strangers here at this prison, but I often doubt He could use me to serve others.
Sometimes I still fail to recognize that God–the only perfect One,the only one who can change hearts and lives—transforms us over time.Then the Holy Spirit reminds me how Paul encouraged Timothy to embrace his on the job training, persevere in faith,and use THE GIFTS God had given him (2 Timothy 1:6).Timothy could be courageous because God ,his power source,would help him love and be disciplined as he continued to grow and serve those within his sphere of influence. Christ saves and empowers us to honor Him with our lives,not because we have special qualifications but because we’re each valuable members of His family (v.7) We can persevere with confidence when we know our role is to simply love God and others. Christ’s role is to save us and give us a purpose that extends beyond our small vision of the world.As we follow Jesus daily,He transforms us while using us to encourage other as we share His love and truth wherever He sends us.
“KNOWING OUR POWER-SOURCE PERSONALLY GIVES US CONFIDENCE IN OUR GIFTS AND ROLE AS SERVENTS TO THE KING”.Jesus loves you as I do!!!!!!
(www. jpay.com)

Shawn Diaz
DOC #473-104