Universal Utterings®
for May 22, 2023
05-22-2023 Matthew Ch 21 v-4041 Death wretched for these men
Gospel of Matthew Ch 21 v- 40 thru 41
40 What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” 41 They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Visiting the Imprisoned one of the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy seems hard to accomplish. How does one go about entering a prison and visiting them without incidence? We are all worried about our safety but once you realize Jesus is in control of your life, then safety becomes less of a worry and more of an expected outcome. We remember Jesus will protect us because HE told us so. You begin to recall His own words in Matthew Chapter 11 versus 28 through 30, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy, and My burden light.” The burden of prison really isn’t a burden at all.
You simply have to seek out your local prison and ask them the different type of volunteer opportunities that are available. Local county jails have programs to help with the incarcerated get a high school diploma or how to speak English or maybe computers. There are several different types you can volunteer for at state and federal prisons as well. The State of Florida prison programs are run by the Department of Corrections and one can apply to be a volunteer online which will allow the state to check your background which by the way doesn’t matter if you’ve been incarcerated before they desire proof in the pudding that ones who have been in can and will be rehabilitated into society by the determination to overcome all and past lifestyles of excess and shame. Or you can seek out programs by calling a local state prison or county jail and ask to speak to the chaplain. The chaplain knows all programs needing help and/or program contacts you can call and become a member of by simply attending a meeting for instructions on how to be one of their volunteers. There’s every type of religion, veteran and teaching programs offered that might encourage your attendance and be of some help.
Or you can join Kairos. God’s Special Time. I’ve been participating in Kairos now for more than 14 years and currently serve as the Secretary for the Kairos Council of Lake Wales, Florida and serves Avon Park Correctional in Central Florida. Kairos in an International Prison Program which sprang from the Cursillo movement in the late 1950’s and brought to the Raiford Prison in the State of Florida in 1976 and was a program called Cursillo in Prison, based on the Cursillo movement. Referred to as a “short course in Christianity”, the program spread to six US states by 1978. It was renamed “Kairos”, a Greek term meaning “God’s Special Time”. Here’s a brief explanation of Kairos from the Kairos International website.
“Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. (Kairos) is a lay-led, interdenominational Christian ministry in which men and women volunteers bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to prisoners and their families. The Kairos programs take the participants on a journey that demonstrates the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Kairos Prison Ministry is Christian in nature, although no religious affiliation is necessary to be a participant. The programs involve a structured model that includes the weekend experience, followed by guests or participants gathering regularly for accountability, support, and prayer.”
We just completed Kairos #55 at Avon Park Correctional and we still have original team members from Kairos #1 from Avon Park Correctional on the team this time too. It was a wow weekend as every other weekend I’ve ever attended in 14-years of serving has been. To watch men embrace Christ’s love and forgiveness is very powerful indeed. You can witness the tears and deep sighs of absolute relief. Recall what I said about in the beginning about a light burden; His Power gives you this feeling of absolute goodwill and there will be times that your witness will bring about a change in others especially those who have no one to visit them no one to give them drink or food or love them for who they are in the companionship of Christ’s love. I once heard a prisoner say, “I want others to see the Bible in me.” A team member quoted the series Chosen reminding every body that it doesn’t matter what you were what matters is who you are. If you want to learn more just email me and I’ll explain how you too can get involved. Amen.
The SEVEN CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY are Feeding the Hungry, Giving Drink to the Thirsty, Clothing the Naked, Sheltering the Homeless, Visiting the Imprisoned, Comforting the Sick and Burying the Dead. The SEVEN SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY are Teaching the Ignorant, Praying for the Living and the Dead, Correcting Sinners, Counseling Those in Doubt, Consoling the Sorrowful, Bearing Wrongs Patiently and Forgiving Wrongs Willingly.
Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. Silence for the prayers of others dealing with the war in Ukraine. In the Holy Spirit we pray our brothers in Kairos especially a prayer for our men in blue. We pray for Holy Mother Church. We pray for the intersession of our Holy Mother for the sister of Jackie her name is Loreen. Daily prayers for our neighbor Thelma. Prayers for a friend and his wife for a baby to be born. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.
I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins
Practice. Pray. Proclaim. ®
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20
05-22-2023 Matthew Gospel Ch 21 v-4041
**Death wretched for these men**
What vineyard owner will do
Tenants receive what to contend
Him they answered very true
Death wretched for these men
Vineyard his lease anew
Tenants other they will get
Produce given times proper
Treated how he was met
© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins
May 22, 2023 @ 06:11 AM EST
® Universal Utterings is brought to you by;
**† God First Ministries, Inc. is a Roman Catholic Lay Ministry not sponsored by The Church but is accepted by the IRS as a Religious Charitable Org. and is exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made through PayPal using GodFirstforJesus@gmail.com, mailed to 1350 Aldo Rd. Babson Park, FL 33827, or given to GFM are tax deductible. †**
Leave a Reply