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     I learned that when I joined the U.S. Army I had to give up my freedom to eat, sleep or work when I desired to do so. All our activities were controlled by our Commanding Officer who trained us to fulfill any mission that our Commanding General gave us.
     We love peace. We love the rest and comfort that peace gives us. Jesus came to bring peace on earth. But, we are also called to: Fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12) in order to get His Good News to every person on earth.
     Our fallen nature wants to rest and have a comfortable life. But the ultimate rest and comfort are reserved for those who do what Jesus called us to do. Paul realized this when he wrote: Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus ─ the work of telling others the Good News about God's mighty kindness and love (Acts 20:24).
     As soldiers in God’s army we have unlimited potential. Each of us has the opportunity to be promoted to positions that give us ever increasing opportunities. Our rewards can climb higher and higher as we lay aside our desire to do what we want in order to become what God wants.
     When we eat food we are strengthened for our daily work. In the same way we need to receive God’s special help each day so we will have the strength to do His work. Then we learn that the more we serve Him the stronger He makes us, and the more encouraged we feel.
     Jesus’ disciples were called ignorant and unlearned men. They seemed to have no


 by Merlin Carothers

qualification to ever be called great. However, they accepted Jesus’ invitation to come and be His disciple. For three years, even when they made mistakes, they learned to follow Him and to do what He told them.
      After Jesus’ departure, the disciples experienced terrible hardships but they still gave their lives to do what Jesus had asked them to do – they told others about Him. They simply opened their mouths and spoke in spite of persecution. As they invited others to follow Jesus their strength increased and the Holy Spirit gave them ever-increasing joy. The “unlearned” became mighty leaders and urged others to enlist in God’s army.
     We became Christians because the disciples did what Jesus had told them to do. We are also invited to volunteer for His army. He doesn’t compel us. We can only choose to serve Him in the same way that Jesus’ disciples did. The more we serve God, the better opportunities we have to become closer to Him! He will then assign us new opportunities to strengthen and build His Kingdom. Whatever our assignment, our goal will always be the same – help people to hear and believe the Good News that Jesus came to give us.
     If you haven’t yet told God that you want to serve Him, now is your opportunity. There are no age or health requirements.

     It was the custom in Biblical times to wash the feet of all guests when they entered one’s home. This refreshed the folks who had walked through the dirty, dusty streets. Animals traveled the same streets and of course left their dung to be mixed with the dirt and dust.
     Who had the “honor” of cleaning the filth and muck from the feet of family and friends? The servant or slave with the lowest standing. It was, understandably, a humbling service for the unfortunate servant to perform.
     In chapter 13 of John’s Gospel, we are told that Jesus knew this was His last night with His disciples, and oh, how greatly He loved them. He got up from the table, removed His outer garment, wrapped a servant’s towel around His waist, and proceeded to wash His disciple’s feet and dry them with the towel.
     Peter thought this was just too menial for Jesus to be doing, and initially had a problem allowing the Lord to wash his feet. Jesus told them they would all later understand why He was doing this.


by Mary Carothers

     Some folks practice foot washing as a part of their church service. No problem there. But I think the real message Jesus was teaching the disciples – and us – was His desire that we learn to humbly serve our brothers and sisters – in any area of need they have.
     Jesus modeled humble servanthood to His followers. In verse 15 Jesus tells them – and us – I have set you an example for you to follow.
     We can each learn to practice humble servanthood to others. Some of us who are parents find it easy to serve our children, but how about our spouse? It could improve our marriage if we tried serving the needs of our husband or wife with the same willingness we show to our children.
     Dear Holy Spirit, quicken our spirits to realize when we are not modeling humble servanthood to others. We want to be pleasing to You, Lord. Help us to think of other’s needs rather than our own.

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies; For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountains majesty; Above thy fruited plain!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee. And
crown thy good with brotherhood;
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress; A thoroughfare for freedom beat;
Across the wilderness!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee. And
crown thy good with brotherhood; From sea to shining sea!

Reading Prison to Praise and Power in Praise has
changed my life. I shared them with the other
inmates and they're being saved also. How great is
that! SCOTTIE, NY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

Prison to Praise opened my eyes and my heart.
Today is the first day of joy and happiness for me. I
always knew there was something more. I was
fighting a battle within myself, and I was losing.
Please pray for me to be closer to God.
ROBERTO, KERN STATE PRISON, CA

I'm 18 years old and this is my first time in prison.
I got saved in jail and ever since I've felt like a new
man. I've read your praise books. I read the Bible
and pray all the time. I'm trying to learn as much as
possible about Jesus Christ. CAMERON, WA

Prison to Praise was a wonderful, unexpected
blessing to me. It was given to me by the company
who installed my heat pump. I'm 77 now…a salty
old saint. God has brought me through every storm
and has never failed me. JEAN, KY

The Southeastern Correctional Ministry serves
chaplains in 22 facilities and over 4500 inmates. A
few years ago we received Prison to Praise from
you. Can we receive more for distribution in our
jails? CHAP. TINGWALD, VA

We were thrilled to receive Prison to Praise. For
years I have used this book as a conduit for the
release of God's healing powers, and a tool for
evangelism. These books will be put to good use.
VERA, PREGNANCY CENTER, SC

I have had a difficult year. I have been praising
Him for the difficulties since finding Merlin's book
while cleaning out my deceased parent's bookcases.
I have more peace and joy now despite not understanding why all the things have happened. Thank you so much. HEATHER, E-MAIL

I wish to express a large measure of gratitude to
you for the cases of books you have provided to the Jail Chaplaincy Ministry for the many inmates
throughout our jail system. CHAP. WEIR, TX

You have a blessed story to tell in Prison to Praise and we thank you for inspiring those who are incarcerated. CHAPLAINS HATCH AND WILLIAMS, DEEP MEADOWS CORRECTIONAL CENTER, VA

I am 9 years old and for my homework I had to read at least 15 minutes, so my mum suggested Answers to Praise. After I read a quarter of your book I was filled with the Holy Spirit. A few days later I had really bad pains in my arms and I remembered the stories in your book so I thought maybe I should thank God for the pain. So my mum and I closed our eyes and started to thank God for the pain. When I opened them my pain was gone! For the rest of the night I was praising God. I am so glad that you wrote that book. ZAC, AUSTRALIA

In 1972 I was gloriously saved while reading and
acting upon the teaching in Prison to Praise. That was the beginning of a wonderful new life for me and my family. Great things have happened as a result of your book. We continually distribute your book with its ageless truths. TOM, MD

My life was changed reading your books. I try to
thank God for everything. It's not always easy but I am absolutely sure that this is the way to know God more and more. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us through your books - they are so helpful. God bless you. ANOUK, SWITZERLAND

I first read Prison to Praise in 1973 and was
impressed to thank the Lord for everything that
happened that day. The result was remarkable. I am now reading your books to my wife, as she is blind and an amputee, but she has the peace of God in her heart and life. JOHN, CANADA

 
We rejoice that we are able to provide Prison to Praise and the other praise books to those who need to hear the Good News of the Gospel. If you are currently pledging to the Foundation of Praise, we thank you for your faithful support and generosity
and we bless you in Jesus' name. If you are not pledging, please pray and consider doing so for the remainder of 2008. Enclosed with this month's Praise News is a pledge card for first-time pledges only. It will help us to know how many books we can plan on sending for the rest of this year to our military personnel, prisons, hospitals and pregnancy centers.
The Foundation
of Praise has received
a gift:

In Memory of:
Lucille E. Kucera
By her daughter
Karen Sue McCarthy
of Loves Park, IL

In Honor of:
Ruby Hunt
By her daughter
Pamela Rommer
of Centerville, IN
Our loss is Heaven’s gain.
Our prayers are with
those who loved them.
Your continued faithful support has enabled us to send shipments of free praise books to the following facilities:
Harris County Jail, Houston, TX
Las Colinas Jail, Santee, CA
Hutchins State Jail, Dallas, TX
E.A.R. Regional Unit, Brickeys, AR
San Diego Central Jail, San Diego, CA
Pontiac Correctional Center, Pontiac, IL
Sheridan County Jail, Sheridan, WY
Baldwin State Prison, Hardwick, GA
Pittsylvania County Jail, Chatman, VA
Federal Detention Center, SeaTac, WA
Harford Cty Detention Center, Bel Air, MD
Stanislaus Cty Sheriff's Dept., Modesto, CA
Broward Correctional Institute, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Department of Veterans Affairs, Butler, PA
Washington Correctional Center, Shelton, WA
Okaloosa Correctional Institute, Crestview, FL
Worcester County Corrections, W. Boylston, MA
Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, Troy, VA
Beauford Cty Detention Center,Washington, NC
El Paso Cty Criminal Justice Center,Colorado Springs, CO
      Some prisoners have never been inside a
church since childhood.

     Many inmates have never - ever - heard that
by faith in Jesus they can receive the free gift of eternal life.

     Most of those who are locked up have time,
and more time, to read anything that anyone
gives them. If you and I place a book where they can see it, they will read it. And for the first time - ever - they may believe that it is possible for them to become a new person.

     Then they will urge another inmate to read
the same book, who will then urge another person to read it.
 

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Read excerpts from Merlin Carothers best selling books!
 Prison to Praise    •   Power in Praise    •    From Fear to Faith    •    You Can Be Happy Now    •    Secret Sins

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P.O. Box 2518  •  Escondido, CA  •  760.741.2755

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