The funniest things pop from the back seat sometimes.  Driving home from the mall, Faith and I were listening to Christmas music.  The radio station played an excerpt from Charlie Brown’s Christmas during a commercial break.  

Charlie Brown said, “Doesn’t anyone know what Christmas is all about?”  Faith pipes up from the back seat with the wisdom of a four-year-old and the sass of one who’s sixteen and said, “Well, if he went to church he would know.  ’Cause when you go they’ll tell you it’s all about Jesus.”  And I promise you she did the little neck roll head bob when she drawled out “Jesus.”  You said it, girlfriend!

Enjoy Charlie Brown!  And remember what Christmas is all about – it has nothing to do with malls.  

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.  As I sang this song I’ve sung hundreds of time, I got chills.  I stood in the choir loft, but I was thousands of miles and years away.  I was there that night Mary gave birth to Jesus…

Join me at Writer Interrupted today.  Click HERE to read the rest of my devotion.

 

I want to take you there.  Listen to this song.  Then imagine it being sung by four prisoners in blue and white jumpsuits their backs emblazoned with “STATE PRISONER.”  Another inmate accompanies them on the piano.  The lead singer in the quartet bellows with true conviction, “If you’re in sin, He’ll set you free. Listen, whenever you’re feeling down, down as can be, I recommend…Jesus for all your needs.” 

 

As I look around the room, heads are nodding, feet are tapping, and hands are clapping.  The heads, hands, and feet belong to other prisoners and their families, professors, and blue uniformed guards – all praising God. 

 

Friends, Paul and Silas ‘aint got nothing on me. 

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25 NIV  

I spent the afternoon in the jail praising and singing hymns to God.  Today, I had the awesome privilege to join in a Christmas celebration with my inmate friends in the NOBTS program.  (If you can’t remember or don’t know about the NOBTS program, click HERE and  HERE.)

 

Once again, I was blessed by the time I spent with my friends at the prison.  Many of the men shared, some in song, a few in verse, and some with their testimony.  Each was powerful and unique. We had “church” in that prison today.

 

After the program, I was introduced to some of the men’s families.  Others of them told me how their families were reading my devotions from their homes.  I wanted to say “hello” to each of you.  I appreciate you allowing me to share in your lives. 

 

To my regular readers, I leave you with this.  “Whenever you’re feeling down, down as can be, I recommend Jesus.”  He’s all you need. 

 

**By the way, the Prison Quartet could sing “I Recommend Jesus” even better than the men from The Canton Spirituals.  I wish I could have recorded it for you to hear. I could have listened to them all day.