The Table: Coming Together by Israel Moore post #5

What is the table about?

Incarceration does more than just house bad people away from society. It tears families apart and can destroy a soul. But...it also could pull families together and strengthen a soul. It can pull one back to the Lord . People get cynical and laugh at the recitatation rate of prisoners returning to jail. I have a few thoughts on this I will explain in another blog.

My name is Amy, and my husband's name is Israel. My husband is incarcerated for the next two years, and we are taking the time to ask God...why? In our wait for answers, God planted the seeds for a ministry that we still do not know where it will go. At first we were angry that this happened, but then we realized this was bigger than us. As one door opened after another...we saw that God had a bigger plan than just our life. Both of us have commited our life to the Lord...so, does that mean we love God and want to serve Him if it fits in the plans we have designed for our life? Or does it mean we love him and will serve Him no matter what design He has for our life. Never did Israel think I want to go to prison for God. Never did I think, I think Ill choose to be married to a amn incarcerated across the country. But we both are responding to a call we never envisioned for our life. We are trusting that God has all of it under controll, and we are to but serve. So here we are.

When my husband was swat teamed and brought to prison...he did not know what to do. He was angry and hurt, and didnt understand why God had him there. Within a few days, he felt led to sit at a table and open his bible. Within days a group of men had come together around the Table and were worshiping God, praying for eachother, and sharing testimonies. This continued even after my husband was shipped across country to another facility. In this place, he was not received well, because everyone new him. He was front page news in this small city. But he went and sat at the table, and opened his bible. Two weeks went by, but another prisoner walked up and started asking him questions. Six weeks later, there are three bible studies a day hapening in this facility around three tables. Israel will be moving again to another temporary facility before finding a final institution. What will happen there? My feeling is the Lord will meet him there as well.

On the outside, I have been walking through doors I never knew exhisted as well. I am about to start a small group as well that helps loved ones of people in prison reach closer to God and become stronger through their refinment as well. The program The Lord introduced me to was named "The Lared Round Table". Interesting, huh? I thought so. I do not beleive in coincidence...I see signs and guidence in things like this. More on this later.

So, this explains what the table is. Israel has a table in prison, and tables will continue on without him. I have a table started in Alabama, and it will continue on there. I will feel this blog with testimonies and how to be a part of a table for yourself. It is time to get real and lay it out on the table for christ to deal with. Our prisons can be broken. We can be free. And we can have a deeper relationship with the Lord than we ever imagined possible.

Finding Freedom in Christ,

Amy Lynne Moore

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Coming Together by Israel Moore post #5

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise Him up at the last day. (NKJ)

Your unrepentant heart creates a chasm between you and God. Repent quickly and be reconciled to your Savior without delay.
Israel Moore
I have been so encouraged by what God is doing at “The Table”. God is so amazing. Over the last couple of days we have seen such growth. Let me start at the beginning.
I arrived at Kitsap County Jail on Dec 19, 2009. After one day they put me in the “D” pod (general population). I met up with some brothers in Christ , they were reading the word two days a week. After a few days in my room, I felt God tell me to go down to one of the tables. After having done this in Shelby County Jail in Alabama before extradition here, I was a little more responsive this time. I sat down at the table for about two weeks and a couple of guys joined me. After about two weeks, God had filled the table.As we have gained brothers, we have lost them to release, prison, etc.
I have been at “The Table” for about six weeks now. I spend a minimum of 9 hours a day there , reading the bible and sharing the word with a full table of men. Amen.
Just in the last week we started reading out of the Daily Bread. We decided as a group we would rotate days and talk on the topic for that day. So far, it has been very successful. Just over this past week alone The Table has grown from 6 men to 12, and tomorrow we are expecting more. How exciting for those of us who have been diligently praying for God to move on these men. We now have to take up two tables…yippee. Another inmate that does not come to our table, came down this morning grumbling to the speaker that he was too loud. He called us the 700 club. I thought that was so cool. If he could hear us then everyone that was still in bed could hear us. Not to mention the 700club guy got to hear the word preached. God is doing some amazing things. At night we gather a prayer list, we constantly have 20-22 guys sign up. Tonight we had 29 guys seeking something from the Lord. Each night The Table prays over the list and names each person by name and their request. We divide up the list between those that want to pray. Tonight, we had 12 guys surrounding our table with their heads bowed , and some were on their knees. I feel truly blessed to be here and to be apart of what God is doing.
I am blessed to say, as you will see, most of these men are not asking to get out or for shorter time. They are lifting up their families, their wives, their kids. They are asking to get closer to Jesus. They are asking to be free from the bondage of addictions. They are asking for renewed lives. Is that not what we are all asking to be, renewed? To be free from bondage? To find a direction from God? Some of the guy’s refer to this place as The Hotel, I refer to it as The Lord’s Hotel. A place where He can set men and women down (if they are willing) and pour the love of Jesus into their hearts. They refer to institutions such as this a a correction’s facility. Correcting behavior is not what they are there for anymore. There are too many people coming to jail and not enough money . Jails and facilities are a storage facility. But God uses it for His “Correctional Facility”. He takes lost souls and troubled hearts and brings peace. He brings the light of salvation into s dark place. On the “outs” ( prison talk for being in society) He uses other things to get his children’s attention. For some of us, he uses jail.
Over the last few days I have been talking about repenting immediately, not waiting. Getting rid of your pride and doing it quickly. 2Samuel 12:13 David repented to God for his lies and deception concerning Bathsheba and Uriah. Nathan came to him and told him the parable about the rich and the poor guy, and the one lamb verses the many for the rich guy’s out of town guest. (vs 1-4) David got indignant about what had happened to the poor guy’s lamb. I don’t know if David understood Nathan when he spoke the parable. Judging by his former conduct, I am inclined to believe he did know what Nathan was talking about. We do that, don’t we,try to play things right up until the last minute. Then when we know we are caught, if we have a conscience, we finally admit we are wrong. Our pride separates us from God. Our shame keeps us there too. God hates pride. (Proverbs 8:13).
If you are saved, there was a time you lowered your pride, admitted your guilt and wrongs and repented. You turned from your sins and started a new direction with Jesus. Now that we are saved and have that personal relationship with Jesus, we need to always be ready to humble ourselves before Him and immediately repent.
One last thing before I sign off. Psalms 103:8-12 tells us God is compassionate, full of love and mercy. He is slow to anger and He does not give us as our sins deserve (paraphrased). I thank God He is so merciful and gracious. When you stumble into sin, fix it right away with Dad, and don’t delay. You are only drifting away further from his loving arms.
A prisoner in Christ,
Israel Moore