VL - Issue 18 - November 2015

REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE
Quarterly Publication | Issue 4 2015
A Publication of
Kristi Overton Johnson
Ministries
Choose
to Live
KENNY
MUNDS
A WORK
IN PROGRESS

I WAS IN
PRISON
And You Visited Me.
Matthew 25:36
SEND VICTORIOUS LIVING
TO A PRISON INMATE
PRISON
CORRESPONDENCE
OUTREACH
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correspondence team is available to
you, but our address has changed!
TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING
OF YOUR LETTER, PLEASE
DIRECT ALL FUTURE
CORRESPONDENCE TO OUR
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your letter being read and responded to. Thank you for your cooperation.
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE:
KOJ Ministries
Prison Correspondence Outreach
PO Box 328
Starke, FL 32091

FROM THE PUBLISHER
An Invasion of Love
Recently, I was riding in the car with our prison
correspondence director, Linda Cubbedge. We were
chatting away, like most women on a mission. In a
rare moment of silence, I presented an unexpected
question. “Linda, if you could describe our ministry
in a couple of words, what would they be?”
I waited a few seconds for a reply. I have to
admit, I was surprised that a descriptive word or
two didn’t just roll off the tip of her tongue. Linda
has been working with KOJ Ministries for a while
now. It was all I could do not to blurt out my own
answer to the question.
“Well,” she finally said, “you’ve caught me off
guard.” Tears began to well up in her eyes.
Now she had caught me off guard! I certainly
hadn’t meant to make her cry.
After a moment, she continued softly, “It’s an
invasion of love. Our magazine, Victorious Living, our
prison correspondence outreach, your personal visits
to the inmates—they invade hearts and minds with
God’s love. His love is healing the brokenhearted
and setting the captives free. But what is even more
amazing is how my heart, your heart, and the hearts
of those on our correspondence team are being
invaded by God’s love through those we minister to.
God’s using the heartfelt testimonies of the inmates
to transform our own hearts and minds! We are just
as blessed, if not more, than those we minister to.”
An invasion of love.
Linda’s response couldn’t have been more perfect.
Through this magazine, the prison correspondence
outreach, speaking engagements, and our socialmedia
outreach, God has created a pathway for His
love. And it’s a two-way street!
In August, I experienced such an invasion while
ministering to a group of inmates at Avon Park
Work Camp. When Calvin, an inmate there, invited
me to their Bible study group, I went expecting
only to encourage Calvin and the other brothers
in Christ with the Word of God. I left, however,
completely undone by the love of God shown to
me by the inmates in attendance. Their genuine love
strengthened my faith and energized me to keep
pressing on. And according to Calvin, a fire was lit
in the hearts of the inmates as a result of my visit
that continues to burn strong to this day. God’s love
is truly amazing.
I was just asked in an interview how long I
planned to minister. My reply? Until the day I die!
Nothing compares to seeing God’s love invade
the hearts of captives and set them free. Likewise,
nothing compares to having my own heart invaded
by God’s love through those our team ministers
to, whether they’re in church pews, orphanages,
prisons, or anywhere in between. Why would I ever
want to stop? God’s love—giving it and receiving
it—is what makes life worth living.
Have you been invaded by God’s love? Has
it overwhelmed you to the point of tears? Has
it rendered you speechless? If not, I pray that by
the time you finish reading the testimonies shared
in this issue of Victorious Living, you will be swept
away and taken captive by God’s love. It’s a love
that will never fail or abandon you. It will never
criticize or reject you. And it will never lead you
astray. It’s a love that will heal your broken heart
and restore your shattered dreams. It will strengthen
your weakened body, soften your hardened heart,
and calm your fearful mind. It’s a love that will save
and set you free.
Open your heart today and be invaded by God’s
life-giving, life-changing love. You don’t have to do
anything to earn it. It’s a gift from above. You only
need to receive it. (If you want to know how, check
out page 5. And when you do, that gift of love is
yours forever!)
Romans 8:38–39 tells us that clearly: “And I am
convinced that nothing can ever separate us from
God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor
demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries
about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can
separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky
above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in
all creation will ever be able to separate us from
the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our
Lord.”
A moment ago, I asked if you’ve been invaded by
God’s love. Before I close, I’d like to ask one more
personal question. In your daily life, are you being
used as a means for God to invade the lives of
others with His love? God’s love invasions can only
happen when His people become willing vessels of
His love. No matter your circumstances, God is ready
to use you. There’s nothing greater than knowing
your life is being used by the Creator of this universe
to reach into the hearts of others and change lives.
Are you looking for a way for God to use you?
Consider joining our Victorious Living family as a
story contributor, prayer partner, and/or financial
supporter. God is moving mightily through this
publication—literally saving lives through the
love and truth contained on each page. With your
support, more and more lives can be invaded with
the amazing love of God.
Thank you for your support,
Publisher/Editor
Kristi Overton Johnson
Editor
Rachel F. Overton
Contributors
George Beasley
Roy A. Borges
Becky Coursen
Corey C.
Linda Cubbedge
Kristi Dews Dale
Aleshia Dye
Bonnie Hagemann
Todd Ingersoll
Kristi Overton Johnson
Calvin M.
Jacob Miller
Kayla Miller
Nate Miller
Carey Morford
Kenny Munds
Rick Renner
Dan Stewart
Jeremy W.
Creative Director/Graphic Design
Whispering Dog Design, Inc.
Amy Zackowski
amy@whisperingdog.com
Partnership Support
victoriousliving@kojministries.org
Cover Photography
Christy Prowant Photography
Photography
Christy Prowant Photography
Additional Cover Story Photos
Courtesy of Brush Arbor
Rob Goldberg Jr. / PCC Media
VICTORIOUS LIVING
ADMINISTRATION/DONATIONS
PO Box 120951
Clermont, FL 34712-0951
352.478.2098 • fax 888.837.9153
ALL INMATE CORRESPONDENCE
Victorious Living Prison Outreach
PO Box 328
Starke, FL 32091
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken
from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996,
2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Scripture
marked niv is taken from the Holy Bible, New International
Version ® , niv ® , copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by
Biblica, Inc. ® Scripture marked nkjv is taken from the New
King James Version ® , copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Scripture marked esv is taken from the English Standard Version,
copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers. Scripture marked msg is taken from The
Message, copyright ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001,
2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All scripture versions are used by
permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
www.kojministries.org 4

Table of Contents
Issue 4 2015
Are you experiencing victorious living?
Is your life filled with
purpose, love,
joy, and peace?
Do you have hope for your future?
Forgiveness for your past?
Strength for your tomorrow?
Right now you might be thinking, “Are you kidding me? Joy, peace,
purpose? Worth, strength, forgiveness? I’ll never have those things! Look
at where I am! Look at what I’ve been through. Look at what I’ve done.
Look at what has been done to me.”
Friend, right now, no matter what your past
or present, all of these things can be
yours. You can have peace that passes all understanding, joy in the
midst of hardship, love and acceptance despite your failures, forgiveness,
and a fresh start. Your life can have purpose.
It doesn’t matter if you are sitting in a mansion or in a jail cell or
somewhere in between, a victorious life can be
yours TodaY!
How? Through a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
If you do not currently have a relationship with God, begin one right
now. Romans 10:8–10 nkjv explains how: “The word is near you, in your
mouth and in your heart…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord
Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
As you accept what Christ has done for you and put your
faith in Him alone for salvation, you are then
free to have a relationship with God and experience His peace, power,
presence, and love. You don’t have to do anything to earn God’s love and
forgiveness. It’s yours for the asking!
After you’ve received this free gift of salvation, guess what? You are
then able to step into the life of victory Christ died to give you—an
abundant life of peace, joy, worth, love, and purpose. As you grow in your
relationship with Him through studying and applying the Word of God
and by trusting Him, these things are released in your daily life.
Will you pray with me right now and
receive all that God intends for you?
Dear Lord,
I confess that I am a sinner in need of salvation. I thank You for
sending Your Son, Jesus, to save me from my sins. Thank You that
He laid down His life for me so that I could have a new life in Him. I
receive, by faith, this forgiveness of sin. I now give my life, my past,
and my future to You. Guide my steps and speak to my heart, Lord.
Amen
6 A Wardrobe Change | Kristi Overton Johnson
7 Uniquely You | Rick Renner
8 Watermelon on the Rocks | Kristi Overton Johnson
9 He Hears | Roy A. Borges
9 One Unanswered Prayer | Jeremy W.
10 Choose to Live | Todd Ingersoll
11 Switch That Label | Aleshia Dye
11 Beautiful You
12 The Train Ticket | Becky Coursen
12 Winter | Becky Coursen
14 Fast and Furious | Linda Cubbedge
15 This Is Only a Test | Bonnie Hagemann
16 A Work in Progress | Kenny Munds
19 Opening for God | Kenny Munds
20 Burying the Fox | George Beasley
20 Words Unspoken | Dan Stewart
21 The Perfect Fit | Kayla Miller
21 Be Available | Roy A. Borges
22 Under the Hat | Jacob Miller
22 Hat Check | Jacob Miller and Kristi Overton Johnson
23 Patience Is a Virtue | Kristi Dews Dale
24 Unbroken Donkey | Carey Morford
26 KOJM Ministry Update
26 Back on Track | Corey C.
27 Jewelry for Jesus | Kristi Overton Johnson
28 IHW Ministry Update
29 No Rope-a-Dopes | Nate Miller
30 God Made a Way | Calvin M.
Share Your Story!
Do you have a story of victory? Share it with our readers!
Your story has the power to transform lives and bring
much needed hope. Here are the guidelines:
• Submissions are not guaranteed to be included in the magazine.
• Submission is acknowledgment of your granting KOJM and
Victorious Living publication rights to produce your submission in this
magazine and other ministry publications.
• Photos submitted must have photographer’s and each photographed
subjects’ consent of use. Photographer’s name must be included. Hard copies of
photographs will not be returned.
• Victorious Living does not pay for submissions.
• Submissions should be a maximum of 800 words and are
subject to editing.
• Mail submissions to: Victorious Living, PO Box 120951, Clermont, FL
34712-0951; or submit online at kojministries.org.
• Victorious Living is a free quarterly publication distributed to KOJ
Ministries partners, at various distribution locations, and within the
prison system.
Victorious Living
MISSION
The purpose of Victorious Living is to declare freedom for the captive through true
testimonials of God’s grace, love, and power in the lives of everyday people. A captive
is anyone enslaved to their circumstances, relationships, thought patterns, habits, or
emotions. A captive can be incarcerated or living in a free society. They can be of any age,
gender, race, and socio-economic background.
www.kojministries.org 5

REFRESH YOUR SOUL
A Wardrobe
Change
by Kristi Overton Johnson
The Christian’s
Wardrobe
Since God chose you to be
the holy people he loves, you
must clothe yourselves with
tenderhearted mercy, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and
patience. Make allowance for
each other’s faults, and forgive
anyone who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave
you, so you must forgive
others. Above all, clothe
yourselves with love, which
binds us all together in perfect
harmony. And let the peace
that comes from Christ rule in
your hearts. For as members
of one body you are called
to live in peace. And always
be thankful. Let the message
about Christ, in all its richness,
fill your lives. Teach and
counsel each other with all the
wisdom he gives. Sing psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs
to God with thankful hearts.
Colossians 3:12–16
Recently, I was at a Christian conference in Orlando,
trying to absorb the speakers’ messages, which I knew
were wonderful. But I was having trouble concentrating.
My shoes were killing my feet, and my strapless bra kept
sliding down to my belly button. For hours I wrestled with
that annoying, uncomfortable bra. The person behind me
was probably silently pleading, “Please, make her stop!”
On the way out that evening, I was overwhelmed
with the uncomfortableness of those two items. Without
thinking, I exclaimed aloud, “I am so tired of wearing things
that don’t fit!” As soon as those words left my lips, the Lord,
as He often does, brought a spiritual analogy to my heart.
He reminded me of how uncomfortable my life used to be
when I attempted to wear the “outfits” of the world.
For years I’d tried to be someone the world wanted me to
be. I’d spoken and acted in the way I thought would please
the most people. I had sought after things I thought would
bring happiness, satisfaction, fame, and pleasure. Yet, in the
end, I always found myself in an internal wrestling match,
ever striving to do something or be someone I wasn’t.
I finally stepped out of the wrestling ring the day I made
this declaration of surrender to the King: “God, I’m tired of
trying to be somebody other than who You designed me
to be. I’m weary of doing. I’m weary of forcing things to
happen. Please, strip away anything that isn’t of You, so I
can be free.” I wanted freedom, and I knew that my current
path wasn’t ever going to lead me there. It was time for a
change. It was time for my life to be transformed through
the working of the Holy Spirit.
That transformation, however, didn’t happen overnight.
In fact, I’m over a decade into it, and I’m still not completely
free! But with each step in Christ, I’m discovering my true
self, the person God created me to be. I’m becoming free of
the pressures of people and the patterns of the world. I’m
finding peace and joy as well as purpose and contentment.
I’m also moving further away from the uncomfortable,
exhausting, and frustrating life I used to live.
I don’t know about you, but I want to be free. And I want
to stay free! Freedom, however, doesn’t just happen. It takes
more than a desire to change. There must be a decision to
change, and then deliberate action. Although I declared my
desire to change decades ago, taking off the world and
putting on Christ is a daily decision that requires a constant
surrender of my life to Christ. It requires me to draw close
to the Lord by spending time in His Word and in prayer,
to continually ask the Holy Spirit to expose any thoughts,
habits, and patterns contrary to God’s will for my life. Then,
with God’s help, I have to actually remove those things.
If you’ve lived the Christian life for any length of time,
you know that the world’s outfits (its actions and thought
processes) have a way of trying to dress you themselves. But
the closer you are to Christ, the more uncomfortable those
outfits will be, and the quicker you will recognize them and
be able to remove them.
So, how about it? Do you feel like you’re in one big
wrestling match? Are you tired and perhaps frustrated with
the constant cycle of life? Maybe you, too, need a wardrobe
change. V
HIT IT
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is a true, exciting, detailed
story of the rise, fall, and
resurrection of a real sports
champion…
Kristi Overton Johnson.
Get ready to be challenged,
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KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
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Your Victory May Just Be
One “Hit it” Away!
Purchase your copy at kojministries.org for $14.00 plus shipping and handling.
6 www.kojministries.org

UNIQUELY YOU
by Rick Renner
I have struggled terribly with inferiority.
Inadequacy, insufficiency, incompetence, and
deficiency are just a few words to express the
feelings that tried to master my self-image. I learned
much from my experience with that struggle, as
well as a great truth I found in my studies of 2
Corinthians 10:12 nkjv: “They, measuring themselves
by themselves, and comparing themselves among
themselves, are not wise.” I believe the principle I
discovered in this verse will help you if you’re facing
a similar challenge and long to be free.
When our teaching ministry was first getting
started in the 1980s, I wondered who would
ever want to have us minister in their church or
conference. My wife, Denise, and I had been living in
a small city and had very few contacts beyond our
little circle, so it seemed like a logical question. On
one hand, I knew God had called us to teach His
Word across the earth—but on the other hand, I
questioned how that call would work. No one knew
who we were. No one had ever heard us teach
the Bible. There was simply no logical reason why
anyone would invite us to teach the Word in his or
her church or conference.
We began to schedule meetings in small churches
all across the United States. We joyfully walked
through every door and took every opportunity that
opened for us, even accepting invitations to speak in
home Bible studies. But frequently, the enemy would
bombard my mind with tormenting thoughts that
inflamed the old feelings of insecurity: “This is it for
you! You’ll never do anything with your call on a
large or significant scale. Your entire ministry will be
to small groups of people!”
When we would get into our car to leave those
meetings, I’d share my struggles with Denise,
and she’d try to encourage me. But the devil was
hounding me with accusing thoughts of impending
IF YOU WILL SIMPLY QUIT
COMPARING YOURSELF TO
OTHERS TODAY…YOU WILL
OPEN THE DOOR TO FREEDOM
FROM A SPIRIT OF INFERIORITY
SO THAT YOUR UNIQUE
GIFTS CAN BEGIN TO SHINE
BRIGHTLY AS GOD INTENDED.
failure, telling me that I would be insignificant for
the rest of my life.
I especially felt assaulted when we attended
conferences or seminars to hear other speakers.
Rather than being blessed by those meetings, I was
busy trying to defend my mind against the barrage
of negative thoughts that assailed me almost
constantly. I vividly recall the devil telling me:
“You don’t measure up to other speakers.”
“Your style isn’t like theirs.”
“You are nothing and you have nothing to offer
in comparison to others.”
“You’ll live and die a failure because you are too
different from everyone else, and you’ll never be
accepted.”
I fell into the trap of measuring and comparing
myself to others—and the end result was always
feeling like I fell hopelessly short. The devil literally
tried to devastate me with feelings of inadequacy,
deficiency, and inferiority. The more I compared
myself to others, the more I felt “less than”—that
is, until God’s Spirit reached into my heart and set
me free!
The reason I share this intimate struggle from my
past is that I know there are many who compare
themselves to others as I once did. In fact, this may
be your struggle. If it is, I hope what I found in 2
Corinthians 10:12 will help set you free, just as it
helped me find freedom from that terrible mental
bondage that almost crippled me and my ministry.
When the apostle Paul wrote his second epistle
to the Corinthians, he told them that comparing
themselves among themselves was not wise.
The word wise in this verse was translated from
the Greek word sophos, which means specially
enlightened, wise, sharp, or bright. This verse could
be interpreted: “Comparing yourselves among
yourselves is not the wisest, sharpest, or brightest
thing to do.”
I can attest from personal experience that
comparing yourself to others is not the brightest
thing to do! It can be a fruitless endeavor that
makes you feel worse and even more inferior and
insecure than you ever felt before.
The word comparing in 2 Corinthians 10:12 is
the Greek word sunkrino, and it paints the picture
of two or more people standing side by side to
thoroughly examine themselves in comparison to
one another—and then critically judging to see
who is superior among the candidates. One group
would be classified as superior, while the other
group would be classified as inferior relative to that
other group. The simple truth is that such comparing
is a fleshly endeavor that produces no spiritual fruit!
It puts one up, puts another down, and fails to
recognize the manifold, diverse graces of God that
exist in the Christian community.
The Corinthian believers were fighting among
themselves to prove who was the greatest among
them. When Paul wrote this verse, he wrote it to
continued on page 30
www.kojministries.org 7

Watermelon
on the Rocks
by Kristi Overton Johnson
I noticed a strange plant growing around a fountain
at my parents’ pool one summer. The plant seemed
out of place, so I asked my dad about it. It turns out
that the year before, we had spit our watermelon
seeds into the rocks by the fountain, and some of
those seeds had made their way between the rocks
and down into the soil. The plant in question was a
watermelon vine. For weeks, my kids and I enjoyed
watching watermelons grow right before our eyes.
As I looked at the vine and the watermelon
attached to it, John 15:5 popped into my mind: “I am
the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in
me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart
from me, you can do nothing.”
Looking at that fruit, thriving despite all the
rocks, I began to think about how we, as believers,
can flourish and thrive even in the rocky places of
our lives. Our victories and growth don’t have to be
determined by our circumstances. We can produce
healthy fruit in our lives, no matter where we are
planted.
What fruit can we produce? Galatians 5:22–23
tells us, “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit
in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
According to these verses, when our lives are
found in Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit will do a work in
us, causing us to produce these fruits in our lives. He
will enable us to love others with God’s unconditional
love. He will produce joy and peace within us, even
when our circumstances could tempt us to lose them.
His Spirit can help us be patient and long-suffering so
we can persevere when things get tough. His Spirit
can help us be kind and gentle in our dealings with
others. He can also help us be loyal and faithful to
people and to the tasks before us. Finally, the Holy
Spirit can help us have self-control so the world and
our own flesh do not rule over us.
Our fruit is very important. In Matthew 7:16, Jesus
says that true followers of Christ are identified by the
fruit displayed in their lives. The love we show, the
peace maintained, the joy projected—as well as the
other fruit of the Spirit—are the very
things that differentiate us from the
world and prove the power of God working
in our lives. They are what lead us to victory and
bring glory to God. (See also John 15:7–8.)
Unfortunately, Christians often fail to remain
connected to Jesus, our Vine. We become like a
watermelon that’s been disconnected from the
vine. What if I had detached one of the developing
watermelons from the vine and left it on the rocks? It
would have stopped growing; inevitably, within days,
the watermelon would have dried up and withered
away.
Here’s the thing: the vine isn’t an option for the
watermelon. It’s a necessity. The watermelon needs
the vine to live and be well nourished. It also needs
the vine to become what it was designed to be—a
sweet, enjoyable fruit!
It’s the same for us. Jesus isn’t an option! If we
want to live an abundant, victorious life, if we want
to be who God designed us to be, and if we want to
glorify our God, then we need our Vine. We need His
strength, power, wisdom, and love to flow through
our hearts and minds. Apart from God, according to
Jesus, we can do nothing. Without the nourishment
of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, we will surely
shrivel up and live unproductive lives for eternity.
The reason so many Christians lead defeated
lives is because they are living apart from the Vine. I
know, because I’ve tried it! I’ve allowed the busyness
of life and the cares of the world to move me away
from the Vine. I’ve run ahead of God in my own
strength and reasoning. I’ve put my own desires
ahead of God’s will for my life. I’ve allowed sin to
clamp off the life-giving flow of the Holy Spirit. And
I found myself devoid of love, peace, joy, self-control,
and patience. Instead, I was operating in busyness,
overcommitment, weariness, frustration, and fear.
Like a detached watermelon, I began to wither away.
But praise God! One day I realized my need for
the Vine, and I drew close to Him, daily seeking
His wisdom and strength, looking for His timing on
matters. As I did, I sensed His fruit forming within
me. Then I began to see it being produced
outwardly. It’s been a wonderful process.
Some fruit has taken longer to
develop than others, but God
has patiently continued to work in me and through
me, little by little bringing transformation of the heart
and mind.
There’s no way around it. Our fruit development
is dependent upon our staying closely attached to
the Vine. We can’t attach ourselves occasionally
and expect God’s fruit to abound. You know—that
occasional visit to church, prayer, or flip through
the Bible. We can’t run through life at Mach speed,
independent of God, and expect to have victory.
Fruitfulness comes with a commitment to stay
close to God, to stay in His Word, to follow the
leading of the Holy Spirit, and to surround ourselves
with other believers who can help us grow spiritually.
Fruitfulness comes through praise and thanksgiving,
even when our flesh wants to grumble and complain.
Fruitfulness comes from trusting God, laying aside
our worries and fears, and stepping out in obedience.
As we do these things, fruit will develop! Think
about it. The watermelon doesn’t force itself
into existence. It grows naturally because of its
relationship with the vine. Likewise, as we stay close
to God, we automatically form His fruit. Love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control will become natural byproducts
in our lives for all the world to see. It’s a
promise from Jesus Himself.
Let’s read John 15:5 again: “I am the vine; you
are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I
in them, will produce much fruit.” This doesn’t say
you might produce fruit or that you will bear great
fruit only in certain seasons of your life. No! It says
you will produce much fruit. Period! Just like those
watermelons, you can bear fruit even in the rocky
terrains of your life! Right now—no matter where
you are, no matter what you are facing, no matter
who is coming against you—you can bear much fruit.
You can be victorious, and you can point the world to
Christ through every season of your life.
It’s true: apart from God we can do nothing. But
with Him, we can do anything and bring great glory
to Him. V
8 www.kojministries.org

He Hears by
Roy A. Borges
Need help in your life? Then pray.
Some people wonder why we should pray. If God knows everything, they ask, doesn’t
He already know what we need?
God does know everything. And yes, He knows exactly what we need before we
even ask for it (Matthew 6:8). But we have to remember: the purpose of prayer isn’t to
inform God of what is going on in our lives or the world. Rather, it is a way to voluntarily
communicate our hearts to Him, to open up and invite Him into our circumstances,
and to show that we trust Him. Prayer is a voluntary act of worship that brings us
closer to God.
When we pray, God hears more than our words. He listens to our hearts.
Prayer is not an event; it is a way of life that brings us into relationship with
God. Through our honesty, openness, and sincerity, we build an intimate
relationship with Him that is based on trust and patience.
The psalmist encourages us to begin each day by lifting our voices to the
Lord: “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to
you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3). In fact, we can fill our whole day with conversations
with God, who will hear us anytime: “Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and
the Lord hears my voice” (Psalm 55:17).
In the face of accusations and slander, we are to give ourselves totally to prayer. “I love
them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them!” (Psalm
109:4). David was attacked by evil people who slandered him. Through prayer, he was able to
remain strong and encouraged and stay a friend to his enemies.
Oswald Chambers said, “God wants us to pray before we do anything at all.”
Make prayer a priority. It is life to us. “As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1). As the life of a deer depends on water,
so our lives depend on God. We draw close to Him and are satisfied in Him
through prayer.
Let God know that He is who you seek. It is He that you desire
to help you through your circumstances. Then let Him guide you.
Don’t fall into the habit of making your plans and then asking
LET GOD KNOW
THAT HE IS WHO
YOU SEEK. IT IS HE
THAT YOU DESIRE.
DON’T FALL INTO
THE HABIT OF
MAKING YOUR
PLANS AND THEN
ASKING GOD TO
BLESS THEM.
DON’T PRAY
ONLY IN MOMENTS
OF NEED. HE IS
NOT A GENIE IN
A BOTTLE WAITING
TO GRANT YOUR
EVERY WISH.
God to bless them. Don’t pray only in moments of need. He is not
a genie in a bottle waiting to grant your every wish.
For a long time, I prayed for God to open the prison doors and
release me. I wanted God to change my circumstances, but He
wanted to use my circumstances to change me and those around
me. I realize the One who knows everything knows what is best
for me. I trust Him even when I don’t understand why my prayers
are delayed. I know God hears my prayers and He will work every
situation in my life out for my good because He loves me. He has
proven Himself time and time again.
If you haven’t seen an answer to your prayer, be persistent.
Jesus told the story of a widow’s persistent request in Luke
18. Her persistence caused her to receive her heart’s desire.
Persistence isn’t endless repetition; it is being persistent in your
faith. Don’t give up. Nothing can substitute for prayer, especially in
circumstances that seem impossible. He hears us when our words
are offered to Him with a sincere heart, and He will come to our
aid in ways that we might not expect or ever have imagined.
God may delay His answers, but it is always for our good. Our
loving Father cares, and when we cry out to Him, He hears us. He
welcomes our prayers and encourages us to come to Him.
Dear Lord, life can seem so hard sometimes. I must confess I don’t
always understand Your purposes in my circumstances. Please help me
to learn how to trust You and how to wait patiently for Your response.
Amen. V
One
Unanswered
Prayer
by Jeremy W.
What has life done to this man
who once was strong, proud, and
seemed to have a plan? This man
thought he was happy, thought he
had the world in his hands. But now
he walks around as if he’s cursed or
damned. His struggle has overcome
him; he has nothing left to give.
He’s not afraid to die;
he’s becoming afraid to live.
He has spurned good advice; his
loved ones have tried. On the
outside he is living; on the inside
he has died. He put his trust in the
world and the things therein. He
loved first himself and fell deeper
into sin. He’s so disgusted with
himself, he won’t look at his own
face. So hardened by this world, he
won’t accept God’s grace. With all
his heart, his pain, and unreserved
emotion, he’s unable to care or
have any devotion. He has no more
effort; he’s given up trying.
This poor man is not living;
this man is dying.
The fear of life continues on, eats
away at him like cancer. He prays
for his death, but his prayer goes
unanswered. You see, the Lord has
a plan that this man does not know.
He’s being torn and broken down,
so that his faith may grow. His
weakness is his strength,
his humbleness his guide.
In dying to himself,
the Lord made him alive.
He’s now grateful and thankful and
blessed beyond measure. In his
heart is the Lord, and the Lord is his
treasure. The Lord never gives up;
He is always there. His love remains
unfailing; He always cares.
He’s constantly forgiving;
He is just and fair.
This man is thankful for that
one unanswered prayer. V
www.kojministries.org 9

Choose to Live by
Todd Ingersoll
I grew up in a Christian family. I went to church and
youth group and did everything else expected of me.
I learned a lot about God, but I was never certain if I
knew Him. During my senior year in high school, I was
accepted to attend Moody Bible Institute (MBI), but
shortly thereafter, I realized I did not have a personal
relationship with Christ.
Instead of dealing with this, I chose to lie about
it to my pastor, family, and friends…and then the
downward spiral began. I went from questioning
my faith to believing that I had committed the
unpardonable sin and was now destined to go to
hell. Countless sleepless nights and the beginning of
severe depression followed. Because of pride and fear,
I chose to isolate myself and not tell anyone what was
going on inside of me. That isolation opened the door
for the enemy to have a field day with me. Isolation is
the enemy’s playground. I was bombarded with one
lie after another, but I believed them because of how
I was feeling.
I continued in this downward spiral for the
remainder of my senior year and the first semester
of my freshman year in college. The lies and feelings
increased in severity, and I became all the more
confused. I was studying to be a pastor at MBI, but I
knew my faith was invalid. I avoided the inner turmoil
by remaining busy with school and basketball—which
worked okay during the day, but then night would
come, and I would be haunted with these condemning
thoughts and hopeless feelings. I found myself, on a
daily basis, looking out my nineteenth-floor dorm
window, thinking about ending my life.
I managed to survive that first semester by the
grace of God and the help of a couple close friends,
Jim and Mick. I then returned early to school after
Christmas for a basketball tournament. My best friend
had challenged me to read a book called Ordering
Your Private World, by Gordon McDonald, and so
I finally did on the last day before the rest of the
students returned. God used that book to get hold
of my heart and to speak truth into me. I got on my
knees alongside my bed and cried out to Jesus. I was
truly amazed that He heard me, and I was suddenly
overwhelmed with feelings of peace and joy like I had
never experienced before.
On January 14, 1989, I became a son of God and
started a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I
could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life and
was amazed at the changes that were taking place.
This, however, is not the end of my story; it was just
the beginning.
I continued at MBI for another two years before
I felt God calling me to go into business instead of
the pastorate. I returned home and began working
in contracting. Then I began telling parts of my story
to family and friends. Instead of being received with
open arms, I was met with many opposing—and
confusing—points of view. Little by little, I opened
the door again to the enemy’s lies. I chose again to
isolate myself, and before I knew it, I was severely
depressed and more confused than ever before.
I sought counseling and help from doctors, but
nothing seemed to help. Not the medicine, therapy, or
countless counseling sessions.
I used to drive aimlessly for hours, trying to clear my
head and make sense of things. One day I made the
snap decision to drive off the road in an attempt to
end my life. But God had placed an off-duty EMT right
behind me who watched me fly 180 feet through the
air. Only by the grace of God and my guardian angels
did I survive—and that with only minor injuries.
This led to a new chapter in my life. I sought
extensive counseling and inpatient care. I was
surrounded by my family and girlfriend who loved and
supported me. I learned a lot about myself during the
weeks and months that followed, and eventually felt
I had been set free from depression once and for all.
My relationship with my girlfriend continued to
develop, and Susan and I were married on January 23,
1993. Life was great. It was as though I’d been given
a second chance—until the unexpected happened.
On May 12, 1995, I watched our firstborn son die on
the delivery table. I was strong at first as I tried to
be there for my wife, but that only lasted so long. Six
months later, I was driving to the office, thinking
it was just going to be another day at work…
when, without warning, I was overwhelmed
by feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
I reacted without even thinking about it.
Without premeditation, I pulled my truck into a
storage bay and again tried to end my life.
This attack came on so fast, with no warning, and
I reacted as though it were out of my control—but
God clearly reminded me once again that He is in total
control! By the grace of God, I was rescued from a
burning building with only minor injuries. I went on
to pursue several months of extensive counseling and
therapy and began rebuilding my life again. By the
amazing grace of God and the love and support of my
faithful wife, family, and friends, God restored my life.
My wife and I are blessed with three healthy boys, a
successful business, and many opportunities to share
our story to help others.
The enemy has tried more than once in the
twenty years since then to take me down. Through
the truth of God’s Word, however, and the power of
prayer, support from my wife, family, and friends, and
choosing to live in community when I was struggling
instead of isolating, I have weathered those storms.
My heart truly breaks each time I hear that someone
has taken their own life. I was there more than
once—I understand the struggle. I don’t understand
why God protected me and not some others, but
He has reminded me time and time again that it is
not for me to ask. It is for me to trust that God is in
total control and that He “causes everything to work
together for the good of those who love God and are
called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). He
has also taught me that true freedom only comes
through believing and claiming His truth, regardless
of my feelings. God has opened many doors for me to
help those who are battling depression or who have
a loved one that is.
First Peter 5:8 tells us that the enemy prowls around
like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour—
this applies to Christians just as much as it does to
non-Christians. But Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God
has good plans for us, not bad ones; plans for the
future and hope. We must learn to claim these truths
for our lives. God doesn’t guarantee that times will
always be easy and trouble free, but He does promise
to be with us and to work everything in accordance to
His plan and purpose.
Can true believers of Jesus Christ try to take their
own lives? Yes—I did.
But Jesus Christ came so that we can have life, and
have it to the full (John 10:10). If you or a loved one is
struggling, I encourage you with the following verse.
“Now choose life, so that you and your children may
live and that you may love the Lord your God; listen
to His voice and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your
life” (Deuteronomy 30:19–20 niv). V
10 www.kojministries.org

Switch That Label! by
Crackhead. Slut. Liar. Unbeliever. Thief. Cheat.
Worthless. Fat. Ugly. Stupid. Poor.
Every day, people try to attach names to us,
many of which aren’t even true. They make rash
assumptions or judgments and run with them.
The most recent name applied to me was
noncompassionate Christian. As I heard those words,
my heart filled with many emotions. First, I was angry.
Who did this guy think he was, judging me like that?
He was the noncompassionate Christian! I was also
hurt. His comment made me feel like I was failing at
being who Christ wants me to be; the person I so
desperately want to be.
I had to step back and get God’s take on the
situation. I have to admit—it was all I could do not
to react in self-defense. As I sought God’s perspective,
however, He gently instructed me to show this person
His love, to treat him like he had never said anything
hurtful to me, and to pray for him. God also reminded
me to let Him handle the situation, that He would
defend my reputation and show others, including
the person who had hurt me, that these words were
untrue. And then He reminded me of something else.
We are pressed on every side by troubles,
but we are not crushed. We are perplexed,
but not driven to despair. We are hunted
down, but never abandoned by God. We get
knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8–9
Aleshia Dye
Proverbs 18:21 nkjv says that “death and life
are in the power of the tongue.” It’s a warning
to us to be wise in what we say—to others, but
also to ourselves. Negative self-talk can be just
as damaging as someone else’s gossip. So no
matter what label someone has tried to attach to
you, speak truth—God’s truth—to yourself.
Instead of agreeing with the world’s labels,
declare aloud the virtues that God says are in you
until they become a reality in your life. Instead
of saying, “I am so stupid,” you could say, “I
am so smart. God has given me wisdom. I have
the mind of Christ.” Rather than saying, “I’m
worthless,” say, “I’m God’s treasured possession.
I am worth the very life of His Son!”
Satan uses negative words to distract us from
taking hold of God’s promises for our lives. They
rob us of time and energy. They cause us to think
differently about ourselves than God thinks of
us. But consider this: people don’t talk about
ordinary people. They talk about people who are
different. Be different for Jesus and let them talk.
So what is your label? Does it match any of
the ones God would put on you? Loved. Forgiven.
Gifted. Strong. Courageous. Beautiful. Treasured.
Wise.
If not, then it’s time to switch your label. It
doesn’t matter what people call you. Christ
knows your heart. Don’t allow what others have
said or how you feel about yourself to keep you
from seeing yourself as God sees you. Speak
God’s truth about your life. Believe what He says,
and watch your life begin to change. Be filled
with His love and live every day to please Him.
When you do, His love will shine through you.
The labels you’re used to wearing will begin
to change.
And if you have a negative label
because of your past or current
situation, ask Christ to save you.
When you do, your negative
labels will be washed away.
It’s time to pull off those
ugly, worn-out, old
tags and let Jesus
put His label on your
heart and life. V
Beautiful
You!
I love you, My child. Did you know, I think
you’re beautiful? You are.
Come to Me, right now, just as you are. You are
perfectly designed for an incredible purpose. Don’t
compare yourself with others. Don’t wish you were
someone else or that you were somewhere else.
Be the you I created you to be, right where you are.
Know that even now, even in this season, your life
has great value and purpose.
My child, quit striving to be someone else. If you
are trying to be someone else, you can’t be who I
created you to be. There is no other you! You are
enough.
Quit striving to do more. It’s not about how
much you can do for Me; it’s about trusting Me.
Just rest in Me. Receive the love I am lavishing
upon you. Then love me back and love those I
place in your path. It’s that simple.
Quit striving to be somewhere else. You can’t
bloom where you are at this moment if you are
always trying to get somewhere else. Take a deep
breath. Rest in the plan I have for you. It’s good.
You may not be able to see it, but I do. I see it all. I
see how I will take your past and your present and
weave them into the most incredible future.
Trust Me. I’ve got you. Quit worrying. Quit
doubting. Quit regretting. And quit being
afraid. It’s not necessary, nor is it helpful. It
only wears you out and steals your joy, peace,
opportunities, gifts, and time.
I love you, My child. I love you just as you are;
I love you right where you are. Don’t listen to the
lies that torment your mind. You are not a failure,
devoid of hope, ugly, worthless, or beyond repair.
You don’t need to clean up to come to Me. You
don’t need to perform to please Me. I am already
pleased with you. And I cannot possibly love you
any more than I do right now.
Receive My love. Receive My Truth.
And find the freedom
to be you…
beautiful you.
www.kojministries.org 11

The Train Ticket by
Becky Coursen
By middle June, my husband and I knew there
was a problem, but we didn’t yet know the extent
of the threat. I listened to Gary’s account of the
alarming doctor’s visit, but I didn’t join in his panic.
Gary always seemed to expect the most disastrous
outcome of any threat, and after twenty-five years
of marriage, I was really good at resisting worry.
He did enough of that for both of us. My more
southern, laid-back nature meant I took one day
at a time and assumed that nothing would be as
disastrous as predicted.
So if Gary was panicked when we went for the
biopsy, I was not. I was caring and concerned, but
felt it was just something more he and I had to
handle that day. I didn’t think it would prove to be
much. Until that point in life, this state of mind had
served me very well.
But by July third, such naïveté had left me. And
without my papier-mâché security, I was the closest
I had ever been to what I imagined as hell.
Gary and I sat on the front porch that evening,
and he tortured me with a long, tedious list of
instructions of what to do after he was gone. We’d
only heard his sentence that afternoon—I was in
no shape to hear about how to sell a house or to
whom I should give his kayak, but he heartlessly
went on and on. My sister Cindy interrupted by
phoning in response to my text. Cindy is a nurse
and the best for relaying information to my family. I
wept and told her what we knew: the pain in Gary’s
forehead was a malicious, cancerous tumor, and the
constant drippy nose he’d dealt with for so long was
not mucous, but spinal fluid from the brain, leaking
from a hole the tumor had created.
Gary talked to her, and he said, “I’m amazingly
okay with it all—I’m ready to die and have a strange
peace with it.” She later told me his words, as well
as his recitation of orders for me, were classic shock
symptoms.
That night, I simply didn’t know what to do with
all my arms and legs. I went outside for a bit and
worked off my agony by spreading mulch on my
flowerbeds and shedding my tears on the hostas.
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH
DEEP WATERS, I WILL BE
WITH YOU. WHEN YOU
GO THROUGH RIVERS OF
DIFFICULTY, YOU WILL NOT
DROWN. WHEN YOU WALK
THROUGH THE FIRE OF
OPPRESSION, YOU WILL NOT
BE BURNED UP; THE FLAMES
WILL NOT CONSUME YOU.
ISAIAH 43:2
The night air was wickedly steamy, and the mulch
was hot and foul smelling. I went back inside
and aimlessly paced the house. We had no air
conditioner, so the windows were open. I knew Gary
was back in our room, probably not sleeping, but
he was stone silent. Everything was hellishly silent,
and the hot, fetid air suffocating. I was experiencing
an overwhelming combination of heartache, panic,
fear, loneliness…and the stink of that hot mulch
coming through the window physically gagged me.
It was a taste and even smell of hell—and I
believe it truly was—because faith was absent.
I know now why I was there in that earthly hell.
I was taking all of the pain, sleeplessness, fear,
confusion, sorrow—everything I feared I’d be facing
in the next however many months—and I was
trying to carry it all in that one moment. I begged
for God’s help all through the night, wondering why
He didn’t comfort me or raise me out of my hellish
hole. All night long, I recited this phrase in an eerie,
breathy chant: I can’t do this. I’m not able.
And on July 3, 2013, I wasn’t able to do it. And
my Father didn’t raise me out of my hellish hole
because, quite honestly, I wasn’t in it yet—I was
only anticipating it.
Winter by
Becky Coursen
It is dark and it is cold today, and spring seems so eternally far away. It is silent
and tasteless, soggy and pasty. Someone has opened a spigot somewhere and
drained every drop of color away that used to decorate my life.
It might as well have been my blood.
I don’t intend nor do I want the shell of a heart left in my chest, but it’s all
I have holding me to the earth. All the good stuff that used to be in it has fled
like the warm sunshine and everything else, abandoning me and leaving me in a
frantic search to find some kind of path in life. And just where does one walk who
has been rudely shoved off the path of hope and joy? I’ve never done this before,
and I’m not good at it. What in the world will I do to keep my feet moving for the
next fifty years?
Oh, God, help me somehow to keep buying groceries, cleaning my house,
eating, bathing. Lord, give me strength to hold down the lid atop my tears when a
cashier pleasantly asks me if I have my card. Pull the corners of my mouth up into
something that resembles an average smile when that little girl says something
cute and everyone laughs. It’s so hard to smile when laughter seems ghastly.
The problem is that he was just here. I saw him and touched him. He was just
here, and I don’t know where he went. The Bible assures me he went to be with
the Lord, but where is that? I don’t know. I sometimes hear his big awkward
slippers clumping through the house, and I turn with a lightning flash of hope—
that fades just as quickly because he’s not there. There really was no clumping—
just some weird echo from last year. I simply don’t know where he is—and yet I’m
so aware he is not gone. Not gone at all. Just not here.
He was my husband and my constant companion, but a cancer came crawling
out of a dark nowhere, reached its wicked fingers around my lover’s throat, and
choked the blush right out of his cheeks. It broke him, and he fled his broken case
12 www.kojministries.org

It took time and experience for me to learn that
God doesn’t work like we often think he should.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is confidence
in what we hope for and assurance about what we
do not see.” But I wanted, on July 3, to see it all—
not to hope for it or accept its inevitability without
it being in my hand. Had I really walked in faith that
day, I’d not have had to endure the stinky, deathly
breath of hell blowing in my face. I will never leave
you nor forsake you—I’d memorized those words
from childhood, but I guess that night, I didn’t
believe them.
I had to learn through a hard road what little
Corrie ten Boom’s papa taught her in only one day.
He explained God’s provision of strength this way:
He told her God didn’t give Corrie her train ticket
until she was stepping on the train. I didn’t have my
ticket on July 3, because I hadn’t stepped on the train
yet. I didn’t yet have God’s strength to sit through
Gary’s first night with a feeding tube newly inserted
and causing him great pain. But when Gary’s first
night with that feeding tube really did come, I found
I had Herculean strength. I didn’t have courage to
navigate downtown city traffic and all those hospital
halls on July 3, but on Gary’s appointment days, I
found peace and found every road. I didn’t have the
intelligence on July 3 to coordinate the doses of a
million pills and patches and lotions, but by October
30, no one was more capable than I. And on July 3, I
could not carry the pain of losing my dear husband,
but by the time the snow was flying, I held his hand
and, with something oddly close to joy, watched him
fly to heaven.
For the last two years, I have avoided my home
during July because the memory of that night is
more frightening to me than that day in December
when I watched Gary slip out of his body and step
into glory. I experience the most post-traumatic
responses on July 3, because on that day a few years
ago, I hadn’t learned to free fall and trust that God
gives daily strength. I hadn’t learned that He doesn’t
give advances—He only offers the assurance that
He will meet our needs at each moment, and our
only gift for handling the future while in the present
is faith—faith that He’s got our train ticket and will
hand it to us as we step on the train.
Retrospectively, I look at what He has enabled
me to do by giving me wisdom, peace, strength, and
best of all, help from my Christian family—and I
shake my head in awe.
Sitting on this end of such a memorable time,
I cannot help but compare the hell of July’s panic
with the amazingly peaceful path that was laid
down day by day by a Father who cared. I see the
moments when I wobbled in my faith, and I see
how God never frowned at me for that. Instead, He
quickly brought me aid in the form of a Christian
brother or sister. I plummeted the night before Gary
died, and, from across the country, my friends Tom
and Jenny stayed on the phone with me, assuring
me that God loved me. My trust in God wavered
again the day after Gary’s death, and God sent my
pastor to my door with such healing words that I’ll
never be the same.
And I know I’m not done. I still have nights when
I cry for hours because I’m so lonely. It’s a lot. But
now I know a little better to leave the future to my
Father and not carry a whole year’s burden in one
night. And I also know an hour’s worth of tears
aren’t really anything to fear.
When grief overtakes you, does
God understand? Can you be honest
with Him and express the pain and
confusion that fills your heart? Or
does He expect you to be stoic and
strong, calm and collected, quietly
accepting the tragic circumstance you
face?
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is
close to the brokenhearted; he rescues
those whose spirits are crushed.”
Our Father God has experienced the
loss of a loved one. He watched as
Jesus went to the cross for you. He
watched the betrayal, the beatings.
He watched Jesus walk up that hill…
and He watched Him die. But He
knew—just as we can know—that
there is hope. There is life in Jesus
Christ, and when your hope is in Him,
you can find peace even in the midst
of unimaginable sorrow.
Your heavenly Father understands.
He knows your pain. You can be
honest with Him. Turn and look into
His eyes. His arms are open wide…
for you.
I hope this encourages you, dear brothers
and sisters. I had a friend tell me recently as she
recounted a particular worry, “I try to think of the
worst thing that could happen to me. And then I
think, ‘Could I handle that?’”
I told her, “No, you might as well accept right
now that you’ll not be able to handle it. You’ll fail.
You can’t handle anything, but here’s the thing: God
can, and He will. Your trust needs to be in Him.”
But you can’t have the ticket till your feet step
on the train. V
and went somewhere. And I don’t know where that is, and it bothers me to not
know.
And yet I faintly hear my Father say, “Woman, why are you crying?”
If I’m honest—which at the moment isn’t what I want to be—I have to admit
that my Father God has shown me more than once the fading of life as winter
descends upon the blushing dahlias. I have seen their beauty choked away. If I
admit it, He has been teaching me since I was tiny. Year after circling year, I have
watched.
And if I’m honest—which at the moment still isn’t what I want to be—I have
to admit that my Father has also told me in His Word that flowers are here today
and gone tomorrow, and a man’s shell is nothing more.
I fuss because it’s so hard to believe in spring when it’s winter. After the color
has faded and the dress the little marigold wore has wilted to dust—I don’t know
where the flower goes. Where does it dance on a bleak winter’s day? It was just
here. I saw one and touched it. The lilac was just here, too, but I don’t know where
it went. I swear at times that I can smell it, but then I turn with hope and find it
was only my imagination. There is no sweet blossom—no real perfume. I am only
responding to the image it etched in my brain one sweet summer’s day.
But my Father gently persists. “Weeping might endure for tonight, but joy is
coming in the morning. You know that…I’ve taught you that every year. Every April
I renew your lesson with a crocus pushing out of an old, peeled, broken case. Every
April, Becky.”
I know, Father, I really do. But it’s so hard to believe in spring when it’s winter.
I don’t doubt that April will come, but right at this moment, I don’t know where
You’ve taken my flowers, my colors, my joy…my husband. Where does he dance
on this bleak winter’s day? V
www.kojministries.org 13

FAST AND
FURIOUS by Linda Cubbedge
Tornado.
The chilling thought went through my mind
as I stared out the front window of my home on
a rainy, dreary afternoon this past September. I’d
been inside relaxing, when the darkness of the
sky caught my attention. I was shocked to see my
neighbor’s oak trees twisting and turning wildly in
the wind. I knelt down on my couch to get a better
look.
Then I heard it—that deep, unmistakable roar. I
knew what that sound meant. Tornado!
I jumped up from the couch and ran to the
bathroom. “In the name of Jesus; I plead the blood
of Jesus!” I yelled as I jumped into the bathtub.
I prayed fervently for myself and my neighbors.
Incredibly, I became calm in the midst of the storm.
Prayers flowed powerfully and confidently from my
mouth. The Holy Spirit covered me with His peace
and calmed my spirit, even as He gave me words to
pray over my neighbors and our homes.
It was just God and me there in that tub. I sensed
the presence of nothing else. While I prayed, I did
not hear the destruction taking place outside. I
didn’t hear when my large, screened-in patio was
ripped off the back of my home; I didn’t know the
patio roof had landed several hundred yards away
on my neighbor’s property; nor did I hear the large
oak limbs break as they were twisted and thrown
around like twigs.
The storm passed, and soon it was safe to
come out. I stepped into a very quiet hallway. An
unusual stream of light shone through the French
doors. That’s when I realized the patio roof was
completely gone. I could see pieces of its twisted,
aluminum frame strewn through the yard.
That tornado was fast and furious. It did its
damage in thirty, maybe forty-five seconds. Praise
God, the destruction it left behind was minimal.
Properties were damaged, but not one person in
our neighborhood was hurt. We all counted our
blessings, thankful that God had kept us safe in
that unexpected storm.
When I reflect on that brief tornado encounter,
I get emotional. God’s protective hand graciously
covered us that day. I am so grateful. Oh, the
power that is in the name of Jesus and in His
precious blood! At the moment of my crisis, His
name and His blood covered me.
I’ve been studying the power that is in the name
and blood of Jesus. The Lord has reminded me how
important His name is. Philippians 2:9–11 tells us
it’s the name above all names; the name at which
every knee will bow as every tongue confesses
Jesus is Lord. It’s the name above tornadoes, above
sickness, above death and broken hearts—you
name it. Jesus is Lord.
Here is some of what I have learned:
At the name of Jesus, demons must
flee. When a believer declares Jesus’s name
in faith, demons cannot stay. Jesus’s disciples
marveled at this truth in Luke 10:17. “When
the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully
reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us
when we use your name!”
There is healing power in the name
of Jesus. When Peter and John encountered a
lame man begging for alms, Peter said to him, “‘I
don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give
you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the
Nazarene, get up and walk.’ Then Peter took the
lame man by the right hand and helped him up.
And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were
instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped
up, stood on his feet, and began…walking and
jumping and praising God” (Acts 3:6–8).
His name brings answers to prayers.
When we pray in accordance to His will and seek
to glorify His name, Jesus tells us, “You can ask for
anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the
Son can bring glory to the Father” (John 14:13).
His name saves. It actually changes our
eternal destination to Heaven. “Everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans
10:13).
His name ushers in the Holy Spirit.
When we claim the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit
becomes our source of power, wisdom, direction,
and protection. “Repent of your sins and turn to
God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
The blood of Jesus has power. We
overcome the devil “by the blood of the Lamb and by
the word of [our] testimony” (Revelation 12:11 niv).
Proclaiming Jesus’s name and His blood disarms the
powers of darkness that scheme to bring disaster or
tragedy against us and our loved ones.
We do not overcome Satan by our tenacity,
our good works, or by our goodness. We do not
overcome him by our own righteousness or holiness.
We overcome him by the blood of Jesus Christ and
the word of our testimonies. We overcome him by
speaking the name of Jesus in faith. We overcome
him by proclaiming God’s Word and through the
power of the Holy Spirit who is our counselor and
our wisdom. We overcome him by lifting our voices
in praise and thanksgiving, worshipping the King
of kings and Lord of lords!
God has given believers so many weapons to
destroy the plans of the devil. What are we doing
with them? It’s time we rise up and be His warriors.
The body of Christ has been passive long enough!
So many of our circumstances would change if we
would stand confidently and boldly in our faith in
Christ, His promises, and in the power of His great
name. We would find peace, joy, wisdom, and love
that the world cannot know.
Our battles in this life are not with flesh and
blood. They’re not with family members or the
judge or our attorney. They’re not with our
neighbor or boss. Our battles are against the evil
rulers and authorities of this dark world (Ephesians
6:12). Entities who have one goal: to kill, steal, and
destroy our lives. But we have been given weapons
to defeat this enemy.
Every day, I plead the blood of Jesus over my
family members, the people on my prayer list
(including the inmates we minister to through
KOJM), and over myself. I remind Satan and his
demons that they are defeated foes. I call him
out for who he is—a liar, a deceiver, an impostor.
Jesus—who lives in me and you—is greater than
the spirit who lives in the world (1 John 4:4).
I encourage you to study scriptures on the blood
and name of Jesus. They will amaze you. If you
don’t have access to a word study, write to us and
ask for a list of these scriptures. We will gladly send
it to you. We want to help build your faith in God
and His promises.
I’ve written this declaration in my journal: “There
is power in the blood of Jesus to set everything
right. Satan, I declare to you that the atoning blood
of Jesus works now to minister defeat to every evil
work of yours and to bring it down to nothing.”
14 www.kojministries.org

This Is
Only a Test
God has been dealing with me about my love
walk. You might be wondering what I mean by a
love walk. Well, if we’re followers of Jesus, we’re
commanded to walk in love. “I am giving you a
new commandment: Love one another. Just as
I have loved you, you should love each other”
(John 13:34).
But there was this one woman. She’d taken
a stance both legally and personally against
someone in my family, and she was absolutely on
a warpath. Well, when there’s trouble in my family,
we unite! Our motto has been, “just tell me who
we’re against.”
So when she began this conflict, we united
as a family. We pooled our resources and went
to battle legally. We were aggressive on the
legal side but much less so on the personal side.
Most of us are followers of the Jesus way, and
so we prayed a lot. However, this woman was
also a follower, and she was praying too. She felt
justified in coming against us, and we felt justified
in defending ourselves.
I try to be very in tune with God so that I
can know when I’m out of line. I never felt we
were out of line defending ourselves legally.
Unfortunately, however, I didn’t stop there. When
the doors closed and it was just family, I vented
about this woman. I felt justified in doing so. But
every time I said something about her that was
less than loving, I felt God’s eyes gazing heavily
upon me. Remember back to when you were a kid
and you knew you had been caught in the wrong?
That was me.
Every time I said something about her that
wasn’t loving, I knew immediately I had crossed
a line. God wanted me to keep my mouth shut.
I wasn’t supposed to talk about her. She was a
sister in the family of God, and He let me know in
no uncertain terms that He was her judge, not me.
She would answer to Him—
as would I.
Well, instead of listening to
God’s warning, I kept going. Finally, one day in
prayer, God showed me that my response to her
actions had been a test of my love walk…and I
had failed the test.
This is not the first spiritual test I’ve failed, and
it probably won’t be the last, but I felt really bad.
Tests are a part of God’s way. We’re all tested
regularly. We’re tested on love, faithfulness, how
we deal with our money, and many other things. If
you’ll start paying attention, you will see the tests
God is allowing in your life. For example, if He asks
you to give and you don’t, then you’ve failed the
money test. If He asks you to help someone who
has fallen into shame and you don’t, you might be
failing the faithfulness test.
He was asking me to walk in love, and I was
failing the love test. When we fail, the test is
guaranteed to come back around. We can’t move
to a new level with God until we pass the current
test, just like in school.
Not long after this, God spoke to my heart in
prayer time. He said another love test was coming,
and that He wanted me to pass this time. He
promised to help me.
“Great!” I thought. “Surely passing a test with
God’s help will be easy.” But it wasn’t. It was long
and hard.
I received a call from a relative. I loved her, but
things had become tense between us. I didn’t
know what I’d done to hurt her, but I was clearly
not living up to her expectations. Every time we
talked, she nipped at me with cutting remarks. But
I kept my mouth shut. I wanted to be close to her,
and I didn’t want to mess up our relationship.
Through our conversations, the attacks grew
more aggressive. She really let me have it. She
by Bonnie Hagemann
brought up things that had happened ten years
earlier and threw them in my face. I didn’t
respond. I don’t think I could have. I just stood
there with my mouth open, amazed at the depth
of her anger toward me.
And then a funny thing happened. I had
the phone up to one ear, but in the other ear I
heard a noise that sounded just like the National
Weather Service warning: Errr errr errr…this is a
test…this is only a test.
I knew God was helping me, reminding me to
stay strong and stay silent.
The test continued, growing more hurtful and
difficult with every encounter. Surely it would be
over soon; but it wasn’t. It lasted over two years.
I felt pain every time she attacked me, but I did
not respond—though more than once I wanted
to unleash my pent-up anger and self-righteous
justification.
And then the remarks and insults stopped. We
never talked about it. I didn’t feel it necessary.
Love covers all wrong.
We’re close again. God put His special healing
salve on my wounds. But He did let me know that I
could have avoided this test. If I’d passed the love
test with the first woman—my sister in the family
of God who came against our family—I would
have never had to walk through the love test with
my family. It was a painful lesson.
How are your tests going? The only way to keep
growing and moving forward with God is to learn
your lessons and pass the tests. With His help, you
can do it! V
FAST AND FURIOUS | from page 14___________________________________________
Now don’t get me wrong: I’m not devil focused.
I don’t spend my prayer time chasing devils or
focusing on them. I do, however, let Satan know,
quick and clear, that he has no hold over me. I
belong to Christ, and in Him, I already have the
victory. No weapon formed against me or my
loved ones will prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
Regardless of what the devil is trying to steal,
kill, or destroy for you or your loved ones, begin to
declare God’s promises. Never give up. Plead the
name and blood of Jesus over your circumstances
and watch as the Holy Spirit strengthens you and
gives you courage to stand in the midst of the
most fast and furious storm.
Will you pray this with me?
Heavenly Father, I bow my heart and life in
complete surrender to You. Lord, life can be so
unpredictable and challenging and overwhelming. I
need You, Jesus, to continually teach me and fill me
afresh with the power of the Holy Spirit so I can be
the mighty warrior You desire. I truly want to make
a difference for Your kingdom as I live out my life on
this earth. Help me to seek You above all, spending
time in Your presence and enjoying Your great love.
And Father, when the enemy comes in like a flood,
defend me! Deal with the powers of darkness fast
and furiously. Destroy every wicked scheme in the
name of Jesus and by the power of His precious
blood. Amen. V
www.kojministries.org 15

A WORK
IN PROGRESS by
Kenny Munds
My sacrifice, O God, is
a broken spirit; a broken
and contrite heart, you,
God, will not despise.
Psalm 51:17 NIV
A good horse trainer will tell you that
it’s not necessary to fully break a horse. You
need only to break it enough to be able to
train it. For me to be able to learn the ways
of God, I had to become broken enough for
Him to mold me and train me. I wasn’t wild
like a mustang: I was stubborn like a mule.
I started off on the right track. As a
child, Mom often took me to church where
I learned the great stories of the Bible.
I especially loved the stories of David.
Not only was he a great king, but he was
also a musician—and music had always
fascinated me.
My father was an alcoholic and didn’t
possess the abilities to be a role-model dad.
He was miserable and angry most of the
time, and when he drank, he could be mean.
I loved him, but didn’t like him when he was
drunk. At the same time, he worked hard to
raise us six kids. And I know he loved us.
So I was pretty much a mama’s boy.
Besides taking me to church, she tried
to keep me away from Dad’s drinking as
much as she could…which gave me lots of
freedom to stay away from home.
By the time I was ten, I could play
several songs on the guitar, and I loved to
sing. Singing just came natural. It became
my refuge of sorts. When lonely or upset,
I would pick up my guitar. It was my
emotional outlet. I got lost in my music,
and I got a lot of attention, especially in
church. I loved the spotlight and thrived in
it. Later, music would become my mode of
survival and eventually…the gateway to
my addictions.
After graduating from high school in
1966, I left home to attend college in
California. I wanted to be an evangelist like
those preachers who brought tent revivals
16 www.kojministries.org

into our little town—traveling and singing, saving
souls. Those were my intentions, and they were good.
My life was full of dreams and visions
of what I wanted me to be.
Little did I know that I’d be wandering
further away from reality…
but I had good, good intentions.
(From the song “Good Intentions” by Kenny Munds.)
I wasn’t ready for California. I was as naïve and
green as you could be—a country hick to the max.
But people warmed up to me for some reason. I
suppose they liked my country-boy innocence.
I found a church with a strong music program,
and I was in awe of the music and youth pastor. He
took me under his wing and groomed me into a
professional song leader and singer—had my hair
styled and dressed me in fancy suits. I felt grown up.
Finally! The role model I had been looking for!
But he had a hidden role. He was a master
manipulator with a weakness for women. But
because I idolized him, I was easily drawn into his
lifestyle. One night in a fancy restaurant, high above
the streets of Los Angeles, he introduced me to
alcohol and cigarettes.
I was hooked after my first drink. Like a slowmoving
tsunami, a wave of relaxing warmth rolled
through my body and out the tips of my toes. I was
swept away into another world where deception and
illusions rule.
Now I don’t blame my choices on anyone but
myself, but because of this experience, I did more
than stumble a little. I became a double-minded
man, unstable in all my ways. My drinking career had
begun. My goals were stifled; my good intentions
interrupted.
It wasn’t long before he and his church sent me
packing.
After a few months of wandering around,
confused and disillusioned, I enrolled in a Christian
college where I started a bluegrass band: Kentucky
Faith. I made it through a couple
years at that college before my
drinking was discovered. I left school
to join a country band that worked in
a bar. No one cared if I drank there.
They all drank too!
Then, in 1972, I received a call from
the head of a well-known bluegrass
Christian band who wanted to hire the bass
player I’d had in Kentucky Faith. Then he said,
“Kenny, why don’t you come along, too, and
we’ll see what happens.”
Well, what happened was the band, Brush
Arbor. We signed with Capitol Records and took
home two Academy of Country Music Awards in
1973, including Vocal Group of the Year. We opened
shows for Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and many
other big-time country music stars. We played the
Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and worked in the Las
Vegas Golden Nugget Casino. It all happened so
fast, and it was wonderful. I was the lead singer and
wrote most of the songs.
Being in Brush Arbor kept me straight for a while,
but soon I started drinking again, and then I added
drugs. Mainly marijuana.
Suddenly in 1975, I was voted out. Brush Arbor
went on to grow in fame and popularity until they
finally retired the group in 1999. I tried to make it on
my own for several frustrating years, but no record
label would have me. Word gets around in the music
industry.
I got married to a wonderful lady with three kids.
In 1976 our son, Faron, was born. But like my own
father, I lacked the skills and maturity to be a rolemodel
dad and selfishly abandoned him and my new
family to pursue my illusive dreams. Once again, the
drugs and booze were in control.
A turning point came many years later in 1990.
I had just been fired from yet another job. When I
reached my car, severance check in hand, I was at
an all-time low. The twelve-pack of beer on the front
seat immediately lifted my spirits. I popped open a
can, lit a cigarette, and pulled out onto Interstate
10, heading toward Los Angeles. As I drove, I tried
to snort some cocaine up my nose. But because
the power windows in my old car were broken and
wouldn’t roll up, the warm southern California wind
blew most of it into my mustache and face.
I had no clue where I was going or what I would
do next. As I veered north onto the Golden State
Freeway, I glanced in the rearview mirror. My cocainepowdered
face was streaked with tears. Those tears
soon turned into heaving sobs that forced me to take
the next off-ramp and pull into a 7-Eleven parking
lot. I sat there for several minutes, unable to hold
back the tears. From deep inside of me, I heard a
scream fighting to come out. When it reached my
mouth, I cried: “God! Please help me!”
I wasn’t quite sure what was happening, but
I knew it had to be something good. As the sobs
continued on page 18
Continue to remember
those in prison as if you
were together with them
in prison, and those who
are mistreated as if you
yourselves were suffering.
Hebrews 13:3 NIV
Christy Prowant Photography
www.kojministries.org 17

A WORK IN PROGRESS | from page 17_______________________________________
He who has begun a good work in you
will complete it.
Philippians 1:6 NKJV
ceased and the tears began to dry, I felt refreshed,
and for the first time in a long time, my mind was
clear. I thought, God must have shown up, all right!
I knew exactly where I needed to go. I left that
parking lot and headed straight to the home of a
Christian friend who directed one of the largest
rehabilitation centers in Los Angeles County.
Normally I would’ve had to wait months to get in,
but three days later, I walked into a new life. Unlike
so many who think that thirty days will cure your
habit, I stayed in rehab for two and a half years. God
used many loving new friends and Twelve Steps to
heal me of my addictions.
Getting rid of the booze and drugs, however, was
just the beginning. Now that the symptoms were
controlled, I had to identify what triggered them.
There were a number of things that could have
set them off. Shame…a lack of self-worth…a huge
need for people’s acceptance and approval…just to
name a few.
But far deeper than the psychological reasons,
there existed a great spiritual vacuum—an
emptiness that only God could fill. I needed to be
filled with His Spirit. I was trying to stop my flesh
with the flesh itself, and what I lacked was divine
power. It wouldn’t be easy, but I needed to surrender
every area of my life to God.
All my junk was gone
And I was on my own,
Lookin’ for a place to be…
The local rehab said
They would give me a stab
To get back to reality.
(From the song “Detox Blues” by Kenny Munds.)
And so there I was, a person clean and sober with
scars left by my addictions and failed marriages…
one who had turned and run from God.
How could He still love me?
How could He ever use me?
In 1998, I was invited to sing at a prison.
Reluctantly, I agreed to go.
I knew from the moment I saw the faces of those
prisoners that this was my calling. This is what God
would use me for—to share my experience with
people just like me. Men and women who struggle
with loving and forgiving themselves, who are
tormented by their past and desperately need hope.
And by bringing God’s love and
forgiveness to them, I might learn
to receive it myself.
It hasn’t been an easy journey.
I’m constantly striving to look at
myself through the eyes of God, the
One who loves me unconditionally
and who has not only forgiven my
sins but forgotten them as well!
His greatest commands are
to love Him with all our heart
and mind and to love others as
ourselves (Luke 10:27). I’m learning
it’s impossible to fully love God and
properly love people unless we love
ourselves. And in order to love and
forgive ourselves, we must accept
God’s love and forgiveness.
And that’s been hard for me. I
grasp it intellectually, but I’ve had
a hard time transferring that head
knowledge to my heart.
Satan, the accuser,
constantly reminds
me of my past…
and my natural
reaction is to start
beating myself up
all over again. I’m
definitely a work in
progress.
But though I continue to struggle with insecurities,
doubts, and fears, I rely on the promise in Philippians
1:6 that says, “He who has begun a good work in
you will complete it” (nkjv). And by the grace of God
and through His strength, I’m making progress.
I’m a work in progress, all the plans are made.
I’m a work in progress, the foundation’s laid.
I’m a work in progress, can’t you see?
He’ll be faithful to complete His work in me.
(From the song “Work in Progress” by Kenny Munds.)
A few years ago, I was ordained as a staff pastor
by a church in Phoenix, Arizona. The pastor there
decided to ordain me for my volunteer work with his
jail and prison ministry. I marveled at what he had
to endure as a pastor and didn’t exactly consider
being ordained as one a reward. But I was confident
I would never be a real pastor anyway.
Well, God must have a sense of humor. To my
surprise, He led a friend of mine to offer me a
pastoral position in a quaint and beautiful little town
in north Florida called Honey Lake.
No one had to tell me I wasn’t qualified. I could
provide a whole list of why my being a pastor was
not a good idea. But as the saying goes, God doesn’t
call the qualified; He qualifies the called.
It’s definitely stressful at times, but God is training
me. He has His stubborn mule corralled again, but
there’s still more of my pride left to break.
It’s hard to make amends to those I’ve wounded—
namely, my son. I’ve found that forgiveness from
18 www.kojministries.org

OPENING
FOR GOD
Kenny Munds
Christy Prowant Photography
I was lead vocalist for Brush Arbor when Johnny Cash invited us
to open his shows on a five-day tour through California. I’ll never
forget that week and the moments behind stage when the man
himself and his wife, June Carter, sat and chatted with us. Just
being around this legend was a fascinating experience.
Because of that week, I often hear people say, “So, you
knew Johnny Cash?” And I look ’em right in the eye and reply,
“I didn’t even know his dog’s name.”
Yes. I met Johnny Cash, but I never got to know him. He
was just an acquaintance. After our tour, I never saw him
again in person.
Similarly, throughout much of my troubled life, Jesus
was just an acquaintance. I knew of Him. I met Him once
at the altar, spoke to Him on occasion—usually to ask
for something—but I never took the time to get to know
Him in an intimate, personal way. The world is good at
luring us away from God and into its pleasures. I took
its bait.
All those years, I imagine God was patiently standing by,
just waiting for me to invite Him into my life. Unfortunately,
it took hitting rock bottom before I allowed God access to
my heart and mind. But when I did—wow! God showed up
in amazing ways, revealing His heart to me and teaching me
so much about Himself.
God is no longer merely my acquaintance. We’re friends…and
we’re close. I even know His dog’s name. It’s Savvy. God gave me
Savvy years ago to be my little companion, my blessing!
Being around a country music legend like Johnny Cash was a
great experience. But being with the Creator of the universe is more
than an experience; it’s beyond comprehension!
And to think, I get to open for Him…
I am in awe. V
A WORK IN PROGRESS | from page 18_______________________________________
friends and family is not as easy to obtain as God’s forgiveness. They may forgive, but
unlike God, they don’t forget. Still, I will continue to be as loving as I can and keep trying.
And you know what? That’s all God is looking for—a heart that’s willing to keep loving
and trying. As I keep doing these two things, I know God will take this work in progress
and change me into the very image of Himself, one step at a time.
And He’ll do the same for you. V
www.kojministries.org 19

BURYING
FOX
by George Beasely
THE
MY ATTITUDE TOWARD
THE COURSE SET BEFORE
ME IS WHAT DETERMINES MY
LEVEL OF VICTORY.
Words
Unspoken
by Dan Stewart
I love to water-ski. For years, my training
partner, John, and I have been trying to
master the slalom course. We’ve created many
memories along the way, and I want to share
with you one of my favorites. You may have
never water-skied, but if you’ve played any
sport, you’ll identify with this story.
Water-skiers are good at finding reasons for
why they skied poorly. Many times, we start
conjuring excuses for our about-to-be poor
performance before we even climb into the
boat. We aren’t even in the water yet, and the
excuses are flying!
I am especially guilty. I’ve got a long list of
excuses in my arsenal—everything from wind
to waves, cold weather to slippery gloves, and
poor boat drivers to faulty skis. And of course,
there’s always the old body excuse. Countless
body parts can be blamed at any time for any
reason.
But one day, John, at the end of his turn,
issued the most incredible excuse I’ve ever
heard. It was so good, it should be nominated
for induction into the Excuse Hall of Fame.
John actually blamed his poor performance
on a fox. And a dead fox, to boot!
It seems John had discovered a dead fox
near his house that day. Not really knowing
what to do with it, he’d grabbed a shovel and
dug a hole. He’d even dug little holes for the
fox’s legs.
I laughed as I imagined this dead fox
standing upright in a hole, its little legs securely
set into the dirt as John covered its body. I
laughed even more as he proceeded to blame
the poor thing for his poor ski run. According to
John, digging the hole had tired him out, and
that led to his early fatigue in the course.
I could only shake my head in amazement. I
had officially heard it all!
But I couldn’t help wonder how many times
God has shaken His head in amused disbelief
over my excuses for not stepping out with
Him in obedience. I’ve used so many excuses
in my Christian walk. I’ve blamed conditions,
equipment, weaknesses, and even other
people, just like I’ve done in skiing.
I’d bet you have excuses, too. But don’t feel
bad. Even Moses had them. When God called
Moses to go before Pharaoh and to lead God’s
people out of Egypt, Moses gave numerous
reasons why he should stay put. (See Exodus
3 and 4.) Before he took even one step,
Moses gave reasons as to why God’s plan was
doomed to failure.
“Who am I, Lord, to appear before Pharaoh?
Who am I to lead these people? Lord, I’m not
good with words. I get tongue-tied.”
I love how God responded to Moses’s list.
“I’ll be with you, Moses,” He promised. “I’ll
move in people’s hearts. I’ll prepare the way
for you.”
There was no excuse that could match the
truth: Moses was with God, and with God, all
things are possible.
When I think about my skiing, I realize I
often doom myself to failure before I even
take to the course. It’s usually not the weather,
the boat driver, or my equipment that leads to
poor performance. It’s my mindset. My attitude
toward the course set before me is what
determines my level of victory.
Excuses are very powerful. They can prevent
our victory before we take even one step
toward our destiny.
Excuses are not the same as mistakes. We
make excuses to avoid mistakes. But you know
what? It’s better to try and to make mistakes
than to make excuses and never take a step.
We can learn from mistakes. In fact, mistakes
can help mold us into the very image of God!
Whether on the water or running God’s
course, conditions are not going to be perfect;
nor will we ever fully know what lies ahead.
I am convinced that God shows us only
small parts of His course for a reason. He
knows that if we see too much, we will become
overwhelmed and start making excuses. He
shows us all we need to know to take a step
forward, all the while reminding us, as He did
Moses, “I will be with you!”
It’s time to stop blaming the fox for our
failures. It’s time to bury the fox and move on.
Excuses are invalid when God is on our side. V
Sometimes I find myself rehearsing a potential
conversation in my head, preparing to straighten out
someone who is obviously out of touch or who has offended
me in some way. As I dwell on the situation, remembering
the bitter argument or hurtful actions, I often find unwise
words forming—words that want to fly out of my mouth
before I have time to gain perspective.
In times like these, remembering the advice of a wise
friend often brings me to the proper course of action: “You
will never need to apologize for words not spoken.” V
20 www.kojministries.org

The Perfect Fit by
Kayla Miller
The perfect fit! Whoa, this is how Cinderella must
have felt when she slid that glass slipper on and
looked up into the eyes of the one who loved her
just the way she was. No memory of the hurt, no
mark of the wrong done to her in the past. Only
delight and hope for what lay ahead.
I slid the smooth, white, bamboo ring over my
wedding finger, and I smiled. No way could I have
imagined the events that had led to this moment.
The day had begun very early—3:00 a.m., to be
exact. I was in Mozambique, Africa, and living in
a house with a group of women I now called my
sisters. Five of us were up, all getting ready for a
surprise birthday party for one of our African house
sisters. Eagerly we woke up the birthday girl and, all
in the spirit of fun, blindfolded her, put her in our
truck, and took off toward the beach.
The timing was perfect. We arrived, set everything
up, and took off her blindfold. The sun broke free of
the horizon and washed our faces in glorious light.
We danced and laughed together as we watched
what must have been the most magnificent sunrise
our Creator had ever made on the Indian Ocean.
BEING A CHRISTIAN
IN NO WAY MEANS
WE ARE PERFECT.
But the surprise was far from over.
I waded out into the clear, warm ocean, the
sand squishing between my toes. I hung onto every
moment, not wanting to miss a single feeling or
sound. Our lovely house mama had asked earlier
that morning if anyone wanted to be baptized. I
found myself thinking long and hard about her
question.
I was baptized when I was a little girl. I knew
I was a Christian, and I loved the Lord, but her
question seemed to be eating at my soul.
Being a Christian in no way means we are
perfect. Throughout our lives, we are constantly
faced with choices, and in my life, I hadn’t always
chosen correctly. At times I’d failed to honor others
and myself, and I’d chosen to love things over the
one love that would never leave me hurt, neglected,
or feeling worthless.
Wading deeper into the water, I could hear that
still, soft voice in my heart whispering, “Today,
let Me be your first love. Let go of the burden of
the past. I no longer see it. I see only you and all
the beauty I made you to be. My love for you is
relentless. Be My bride!”
In agreement, I plunged under the water, and as
I emerged to catch my breath, I was made whole.
I felt it. No longer did I carry the guilt and shame
from my past. I could now look freely at my first love
with nothing but hope for our future.
Six hours later, the day came full circle when
I found a simple, beautiful, bamboo ring. I slid it
on my wedding finger and vowed that, from that
moment on, God would be my first love. I could rest
in His love because I knew that, like Cinderella, I
was cherished and valued and found to be the
perfect fit. V
Be Available by Roy A. Borges
Sometimes being kind to others can seem
impossible. God has taught me some undeniable
truths about kindness from the most unlikely place:
behind prison fences.
I’d like to share a simple act of kindness that I once
witnessed. I was lying on my bunk in the dormitory
reading the Bible when I heard Ryan ask Robert if he
could help him write a letter to his mother.
“How long has it been since you wrote your
mother, Ryan?” Robert asked.
“A couple of months,” Ryan said, “I don’t know
what to write. Would you help me?”
“Sure, I’ll help you.”
“One other thing…Do you think you could help
me with a stamp?”
“It doesn’t make much sense to help you write
a letter to your mother and not put a stamp on it,”
Robert said with a smile.
Robert’s kindness toward Ryan reflected the heart
of God, and I shall never forget it. Robert gave of
himself. It was a simple act. It was a simple thing—a
stamp. Yet the act and the gift had great value to Ryan.
And witnessing that kindness had great value to me;
it encouraged me.
Is there any encouragement from
belonging to Christ? Any comfort from
his love? Any fellowship together in
the Spirit? Are your hearts tender
and compassionate? Then make me truly
happy by agreeing wholeheartedly
with each other, loving one another,
and working together with one mind
and purpose. Don’t be self ish; don’t
try to impress others. Be humble,
thinking of others as better than
yourselves. Don’t look out only for
your own interests, but take an
interest in others, too.
Philippians 2:1–4
God calls us all to be kind. “Be kind to each other,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God
through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). It
pleases God when we are kind. “And don’t forget to
do good and to share with those in need. These are
the sacrifices that please God” (Hebrews 13:16).
But kindness isn’t always easy. It’s like a
construction project; it takes work. It doesn’t just
happen. Opportunities to express kindness are easily
missed. We are so busy with ourselves that we often
forget to help someone else. Helping others requires
us to sacrifice our time, to give up some activity to
make room for them.
I wonder what I would have told Ryan if he
would’ve asked me for help. Would I have made up
an excuse? Would I have justified putting him off by
saying I had to read my Bible or do something else
spiritual? Sometimes I can get so caught up in my own
activities—good activities—that I don’t take the time
to express the heart of God through kindness.
Situations often challenge us to put aside our
interests to help others. In my own strength, I cannot
accomplish it. But when I let the Spirit guide me, He
gives me a tender heart that is willing to put another’s
interest before my own.
We need to make room to be available whenever
others call on us for help, focusing not on what we
can gain from it, but on what we can give. A small
thing like a stamp could mean a lot to someone who
doesn’t have one. A small thing like a stamp may the
very thing that softens someone’s heart to personally
experience the love of God.V
www.kojministries.org 21

Under the Hat by
It wasn’t the first time that hat had caused
unwanted attention. Six months earlier, I’d worn
the hat into a local Goodwill store. (My mistake
wasn’t just wearing the hat; I’d paired it with soccer
shorts and bright purple running shoes.) I entered
the store, and a man saw me and nudged his wife.
“Look at this joker!” He laughed.
That should’ve been the last time I wore it.
Indeed, I actually threw it into the back of the closet
for a while, but I have an unending love for funky
hats and clothes. I dug it back out. It’s a fashion
style that betrays its followers into situations much
like one I now found myself in, as I sat next to a
dirty, old, homeless man in the Chicago subway.
He crowded in next to me and proceeded to
make fun of my Russian fur hat.
“Whoo-haa! That’s a furry li’l hat!” The man’s
voice carried well above the noise of the tracks,
and everyone turned to look at me, the man with
the furry hat. I was glad I wasn’t wearing my
purple shoes.
The homeless man scooted in closer, his gaze
glued to the hat. “Where’d you get it?” he asked.
Normally, I would have ignored his inquiries
and pretended to be grossly involved in something
important on my phone. This is a common strategy
used by Chicagoans to avoid embarrassing
conversations with the homeless. I know I shouldn’t
stoop to such behavior, but I admit that, like many
who are self-conscious or simply uninterested
in such conversation, I do resort to such tactics
at times.
I was raised in a Christian home, even attended
a Bible college in Chicago. I know I’m to reach
into the lives of people and share God’s love.
Unfortunately, I often leave the whole “love thy
neighbor” thing at the turnstile when boarding the
subway. I always pick it back up once I safely exit.
That’s good enough, isn’t it?
The homeless man continued to stare at my
hat, waiting for my answer. I looked down at my
phone but then stopped. A crazy idea popped into
my head. I’ve always been terrible with accents; the
last time I tried to copy a British accent, I ended
up sounding something like Louis Armstrong! But
this time, I went ahead and pursed my lips together,
pushed my tongue to the roof of my mouth, and
hoped it would produce the desired accent.
“It’za from Russia,” I told him in my fake Russian
accent. A girl across the aisle burst out laughing but
quickly muffled it so as not to wreck the next scene.
“Really?! No way, man! That’s awesome,” he
exclaimed, slapping his knees with both hands
in excitement. “Where can I get one of those?”
Jacob Miller
he slurred. Eyes all around the train watched me
intently, waiting for my response.
I pulled myself back into character. “Youz can’t;
onlyz in Russia,” I told him, pointing to the fur hat.
“Diz fur, youz no find in Chicaga.”
People around the train chuckled.
“Ahh, man! I knew it!” The homeless man wailed.
He kicked the seat in front of him, causing more
heads to turn. Folding his arms, he positioned
himself into a pout and didn’t say another word. I
just smiled and felt proud that I had put an end to
his banter. Others around the car seemed relieved
that he had stopped his incessant chatter. We all
rode on in silence. Mission accomplished.
As I reflected on this scene later, however,
I realized an ugly truth. What I had done to that
homeless man was perhaps more unkind than
simply ignoring him. I had played him for a fool.
My fur hat had become a tool for a cruel joke
that mocked the disillusionment of this man.
That’s right––a man. A man created and loved by
God. A man who needed, not my mocking, but my
compassion.
I realized that this man was wearing a hat he
didn’t want to wear. He couldn’t pretend to be
someone else. He was trapped with the hat he
had come to know in life. And there I was, a man
trying to escape his own identity under the guise
of Russian fur.
Could it be that my love for hats was really a
desire for new identity? With each hat, I could be
anyone I wanted in public—while avoiding who
I actually was in private. A man unsettled. A man
afraid. A man unsure.
And that was it, wasn’t it? The identities I’d been
taking on stemmed from my insecurity in who I
truly was. Nobody goes around proclaiming their
insecurities to the world, and I had no intention
of strolling through the streets of Chicago sharing
Jesus because, oddly enough, my greatest insecurity
was in my own relationship with Him.
continued on page 23
Hat
Check!
by Jacob Miller and Kristi Overton Johnson
God didn’t intend for His beautifully
created people to hide under hats––to go
about life hiding from the world and from
Him. When we make mistakes, God never
says, “Hey! Go put on a hat! I can’t bear to
look at you.”
No, that’s not our Father. Our Father
says, “Come to Me, child. It’s okay. Come
out from wherever you’re hiding and tell
Me what’s on your heart. Tell Me what
you’ve done. Tell Me about your struggles
and fears. Tell Me about your dreams or
disappointments.”
He doesn’t push us away or demand we
become someone other than who we truly
are. Instead, our heavenly Father invites us
to come now, simply as we are. To come
to Him with all of our fears, mistakes, and
insecurities, so He can love us and make
us whole.
God wants you to come––yes, you!––to
come just as you are. In all your dirtiness,
with all your mistakes, in the midst of your
confusion.
God’s love for you isn’t dependent
upon your past. It doesn’t depend on your
current abilities or situation. It’s based on
one fact, and one fact alone: You are His
child. And He’s waiting with arms wide
open for you to come home to Him. It’s
there that you’ll find your true identity. It’s
there you will discover you are infinitely
loved, no matter what. V
22 www.kojministries.org

Is a
VIRTUE by
Patience
Kristi Dews Dale
On Saturday mornings, I like to listen to the birds
sing and watch the sun peek around the edges of the
curtains. And even though the sun has barely revealed
itself, my husband and I start to hear the patter of tiny
feet, softly moving toward our bedroom. One by one,
they climb into our bed and find a suitable snuggling
spot. Their warm heads smell sweet, like a mixture of
grass, lavender, and baby soap. They wrap their tiny
limbs around us and nudge their heads to get as close
as possible to momma and daddy.
Little girl giggles fill our space as we share the
funny things we dreamt of the night before and they
begin planning how to fill up the day with games of
Monopoly, spa treatments for their dolls, and baking
cookies.
I soak in this special time because I know it will
not last forever. And by forever, I mean, less than ten
minutes. Inevitably, someone gets kicked and that
special moment in time unravels into something more
resembling a pro wrestling match.
The day begins, and I quickly realize it will not go as
planned. The bathroom is flooded as my children treat
their dolls to a spa day. My two oldest argue about
who won Monopoly and toss thousands of Monopoly
dollars on the floor. Halfway through baking cookies,
everyone loses interest, leaving me with a messy
kitchen and slightly burned cookies.
It is at this moment that I conclude that my cup of
patience has developed a leak.
Thankfully God has provided a way to repair that
leak, and I know I have a decision to make—to turn
to God or to let selfishness take over. My sin nature
wants to be mad and stomp around the house leaving
burnt cookies in my wake, but I can’t show Christ
to my children while stuffing their Monopoly money
in the garbage disposal. It is easy to be patient and
loving when everything is going just the way I want,
but God challenges Christians to a narrow road of
love and patience.
Colossians 3:12–14 says, “Since God chose you
to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe
yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance
for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who
offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you
must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with
love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”
This passage speaks to my heart, but I struggle
to put it into practice. Daily life is filled with unmet
expectations, frustrating situations, and a sinful desire
to lose my patience with the world. So each day, I
make a commitment to combat new frustrations that
creep under my skin. Here’s my three-step plan of
attack.
Step 1: Be humble. Mark 10:45 says that
“Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to
serve others.” Jesus paved a pathway and showed a
servant’s heart. I am called to mirror that attitude.
Step 2: Make Allowances for Others.
Children are supposed to be messy and argue
on occasion. Ephesians 4:32 says for us to be
“tenderhearted and forgiving” to one another. With
my kids and people in general, I need to take a deep
breath and give them grace.
Step 3: Clothe Myself Properly. Romans
13:14 instructs me to, “clothe yourself with the
presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.” I need to be in
God’s Word daily, seeking His wisdom and guidance.
Sometimes, in an outward action of enveloping myself
in His Word, I take scripture and put it in my pocket
THE WORD OF GOD IS
ALIVE AND POWERFUL.
IT IS SHARPER THAN THE
SHARPEST TWO-EDGED
SWORD, CUTTING BETWEEN
SOUL AND SPIRIT, BETWEEN
JOINT AND MARROW. IT
EXPOSES OUR INNERMOST
THOUGHTS AND DESIRES.
HEBREWS 4:12
as a reminder of God’s love and expectations for me.
No one is perfect, and despite my plan of attack,
I still fail. Thankfully, God’s grace is sufficient, despite
our failures. He is glorified when we continually seek
Him and look to His Word for solutions to our everyday
problems.
I encourage each of you to develop your own
personal plan of attack to combat selfish attitudes.
Use the Bible as your first line of defense. V
UNDER THE HAT | from page 22
Shame and guilt had caused me to hide under
those hats. They were just a way to conceal the inner
disappointment I felt for not being “good enough.”
I had made mistakes, had often failed to do as Christ
would have done. Like Adam and Eve, I’d decided to
hide rather than expose myself to Him.
Why would God want someone like me on
display for the world to see? Wasn’t I doing God a
service by hiding?
But then I felt the Lord inviting me to take off my
hats, to lay them aside. To quit hiding and to reveal
my true self to Him and to the world. How else could
I ever feel the sun shining down on my head? How
else could His rain wash away what was hidden
underneath and make me totally whole? How else
could I ever truly touch the world around me?
That homeless man in the Chicago subway
didn’t need a hat. He didn’t need my jokes, either.
What he did need was real, authentic love from the
person beside him. Love that I can only give when
I’ve surrendered my whole self––fears, weaknesses,
doubts, and all––to the One who is Love, once and
for all. V
www.kojministries.org 23

Unbroken
Donkey by Carey Morford
I
don’t know anything
about animals.
The only pet we’ve had
at our house for more
than a week was a praying
mantis. So when I read that
the donkey Jesus rode into
Jerusalem had never been
ridden, I didn’t think much of
it. But then I read that Jesus
riding an unbroken donkey
was a demonstration of what
happens when God’s kingdom
comes to earth.
I decided I needed some more information, so I
called my friend, Jeremy Zackowski. (Our son calls
him Cowboy.) I figured Cowboy would know what
it would be like to ride a donkey that has never
been ridden. Cowboy told me that Jesus doing this
was certainly a miracle. Cowboy has ridden animals
that have never been ridden before, and he says they
either get stubborn and won’t budge, or they buck
and cause a ruckus.
In Matthew’s telling of the story (Matthew 21:1–
11), we learn that the donkey’s mother was there,
too. I asked Cowboy if that would make the story any
less significant or miraculous. He explained that if the
colt was still with its mother, then it probably had not
been weaned yet. That means the mother would have
been the one causing a ruckus.
I started to think. When we become followers of
Jesus—when we are willing to go where He goes
and do what He asks—we are like the unbroken
donkey. We’re scared; we shake; we have no idea
what is ahead of us. We aren’t sure about this person
who’s leading us. Some of us are tempted to buck
and cause a ruckus, and others decide to be stubborn
and not move—it just depends on the donkey, as
Cowboy would say.
I often hesitate in following God’s lead as I become
aware of all of my imperfections and weaknesses. Yet
the more I rest in Christ and trust His lead, I find that
He actually uses my imperfections and weaknesses
for His glory. There is no condemnation in Him
(Romans 8:1).
Donald Miller, in his book, Scary Close, says it like
this: “God is going to reveal me as a flawed human
being as fast as He can, and He’s going to enjoy it,
because it will force me to grapple with real intimacy.”
Dr. Brené Brown, who researches the impact of
shame and vulnerability on our lives, says, “There’s
nothing more daring than showing up, putting
ourselves out there, and letting ourselves be seen.”
I think we do ourselves and the church a disservice
when we pretend that—well, when we pretend
anything, really. But I especially think it’s a disservice
when we pretend that following Jesus and having
faith is easy. It’s not. It takes laying our fears and
insecurities and weaknesses aside every day.
Like the donkey, we must be willing to surrender
to the One who leads us and encourages us to put
ourselves out there. We must be willing to give up
what we think for what God thinks and to go where
He desires us to go. We must be willing to open our
eyes to God’s new thing for our life, to what Jesus is
offering to us. It might not be what we want, but it is
always what we need. V
So I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get
me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift
and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own
in your weakness.” Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of
Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse,
accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 msg
CORRESPONDENT TESTIMONY
About a year and a half ago, my heart was
opened to a new kind of ministry when I joined
the KOJ Ministries’ prison correspondence team.
This team consists of ladies who read letters sent
to KOJM from male and female inmates. The team
then prays over each letter and responds with a
handwritten card filled with encouraging words,
scriptures, and prayers. The mission of this outreach
is to encourage the hearts of inmates by showing
them God’s love, explaining His plan of salvation
and redemption, and giving them a family to which
they can belong.
When I started, I thought I would be writing to
encourage the inmates, but I find I’m often the one
who’s encouraged! Their stories are so powerful:
they build my faith.
Many of these people praise the Lord for their
being in prison. They share how their experience
behind bars has brought them to a place of
surrender where they discovered a new life filled
with the love of Jesus. He has transformed them into
godly men and women. They now want to devote
their lives to sharing their testimonies and telling
others how to be saved.
Many who write are heartbroken about their
lives. These men and women need to be reassured
that they have not been forgotten. I am able to
remind them that God sees them and He cares
about their souls and desires to have a relationship
with them. I encourage them to keep Jesus up
front, to have daily prayer and Bible reading, and to
believe that Jesus can change their lives. Nothing is
too hard for Him.
When I read their letters, I am sometimes filled
with joy. Other times I cry as my heart breaks. I pray
for the Lord to work in their lives and their families’
lives. God loves them all.
My heart has been touched through this prison
correspondence outreach. It is my desire to continue
sharing Christ with this team to as many people as
the Lord allows.
~Mrs. Carolyn
24 www.kojministries.org

OUR CONTRIBUTORS
Share Your Story!
Do you have a story of victory? Share it with our readers!
Your story has the power to transform lives and bring much needed hope. See page 5 for the guidelines and mail your submissions to:
Victorious Living, PO Box 120951, Clermont, FL 34712-0951; or submit online at kojministries.org.
GEORGE BEASLEY
George and his wife, Lisa, are
certified marriage mentors in North
Carolina. They work with couples
to prepare, repair, and maintain
marriages according to God’s
Word. George is the author of The
Invisible Soul.
ROY A. BORGES
Roy writes about his life
experiences from a prison cell in
Florida. His stories have appeared
in many Christian publications. Roy
has won AMY Foundation awards
in 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2007.
BECKY COURSEN
Becky is an artist and a high-school
English teacher in Ohio. She hears
God best when she is outside
working in her flower beds or
spending time with her dog, Buddy,
and her brand new beehives.
LINDA CUBBEDGE
Linda is the director of KOJM’s
Prison Correspondence Outreach.
She is passionate about the
Lord and leading others to Him.
Linda has four children, nine
grandchildren, and one greatgrandson.
KRISTI DEWS DALE
Kristi is a wife and the mother of
three amazing daughters. She
holds a master’s degree in public
health and is an adjunct business
instructor at a local college in North
Carolina. Kristi is passionate about
encouraging others with Christ’s
love.
ALESHIA DYE
Aleshia lives in Florida and is
an administrative assistant for a
government agency. She has a heart
to teach and help others, especially
children. Aleshia volunteers with
many organizations, including In
His Wakes.
BONNIE HAGEMANN
Bonnie is a member of KOJ
Ministries’ board of directors.
She is also the CEO of Executive
Development Associates, an
internationally known boutique
consulting firm that specializes in
executive development, executive
coaching, and high-potential
development. To date, Bonnie is the
author of eleven published works.
TODD INGERSOLL
Todd is president and founder of
Ingersoll & Company and Ingersoll
Lighting, in Wisconsin. He strives to
live in such a way that God’s light
shines through everything he does
as husband, father, business owner,
basketball coach, and ministry
partner, with the ultimate goal of
drawing others to Christ.
KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
Kristi is the founder of In His Wakes
and KOJ Ministries. She currently
resides in Florida with her husband,
Tim, and their three children.
JACOB MILLER
Jake is part of the traveling team
with In His Wakes ministry. He is
pursuing a masters of fine arts
degree in creative writing and
attending Bethel School of Ministry.
Jake loves traveling the world and
is always in search of the next
great adventure. Follow Jake at
wakeboardjake.wordpress.com.
KAYLA MILLER
Kayla has been trained through
YWAM, has served with Heidi
Baker’s ministry in Mozambique,
and is a part of the traveling In
His Wakes ministry team. Kayla is
currently deepening her knowledge
of the Lord at Bethel School of
Ministry.
NATE MILLER
Nate is the president/director of In
His Wakes. He lives in Oregon, with
his wife, Ivy. If you are interested in
learning more about In His Wakes,
contact Nate at nate@inhiswakes.
com.
CAREY MORFORD
Carey is married to her best friend,
Isaac, and they have four children.
She is an elementary school media
specialist and the president of Seeds
of Grace, Inc., an organization that
provides educational opportunities
and life-enriching skills for at-risk
children and impoverished families.
KENNY MUNDS
For the past sixteen years, using
Hebrews 13:3 as his guide, Kenny
has taken the good news of God’s
love and forgiveness into prisons
all across America. To find out
more about his ministry, go to
kennymundsministry.org.
RICK RENNER
Rick is the author of more than
thirty books, including his topselling
classics Sparkling Gems
from the Greek and Dressed to
Kill, which have sold more than
a million copies combined. A
highly respected leader, teacher,
and author within the Christian
community, both in the United
States and abroad, Rick and his
wife, Denise, have traveled the
earth for three decades, teaching
the Word of God. They reside in
Moscow, Russia, along with their
three sons and their families.
DAN STEWART
Dan is a former professional waterskier
with Sea World. Today, he is
the director of human resources
and safety for World Entertainment
Services. He lives in Florida with
Tracy, his wife of twenty-six years.
THANK YOU!
A special thank-you to this month’s
inmate correspondents: Corey C.,
Calvin M., and Jeremy W.
BACK ON
TRACK
by Corey C.
Trapped and alone in this
cold, dark cell,
Imprisoned by my own
choice of free will.
I was runnin’ from God,
lost and deceived,
Trapped by the thoughts
of my very own greed.
But then one day lyin’
flat on my back,
I discovered the way to
get my life on track.
My Lord and Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ
And God the Creator,
who gave me life.
With love and forgiveness
He took my hand,
My rock and fortress
in whom I stand.
Back on solid ground,
alive and free,
I was lost but now found,
Was blind but now see.
Trapped and alone
inside that cell,
I found the way home
to heaven, from hell.
www.kojministries.org 25

MINISTRY NEWS
UPDATE FROM KOJ MINISTRIES FOUNDER,
KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
At Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries, (KOJM), we are
constantly amazed at how God is opening doors to reach
more lives for His kingdom. Here are some highlights:
Kristi Overton Johnson
Ministries seeks to love
people to the Life-Giver,
Jesus Christ, through
its various publications,
teaching and singing
ministry, as well as
prison and orphan
outreaches. KOJM equips
minds and encourages
hearts with the Living
Water of God’s Word.
x 10 =
Each copy of Victorious Living
distributed in a prison system has a
readership of at least ten inmates.
This means that each quarterly issue
has an impact on the lives of more than
100,000 inmates.
72,000
magazines printed
so far in 2015.
Scan the QR code to Like Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries Facebook page
and receive inspirational devotions.
It only takes
$400 to impact 8,000
lives! Your $400 donation will help us
send VL into a new prison for one year.
Will you sponsor a prison in your city or state?
SHARING WITH SANTA
Prison Correspondence Outreach (PCO) Director,
Linda Cubbedge, and Kristi Overton Johnson
share Victorious Living with Santa at the Down
East Holiday Show in Greenville, NC. While there,
contacts were made to expand VL into selected
North Carolina prisons.
Our PCO team currently consists of 23 writers
from Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
In November, Kristi and Linda shared Victorious Living and
our Prison Correspondence Outreach with women from
eastern North Carolina at an annual Holiday Show. We
are believing that God will bring us a full team of local
correspondents there as we begin distributing Victorious
Living in the North Carolina prison system.
352-478-2098
www.kojministries.org
WANT TO HELP?
PRAY for our ministry
BECOME a correspondence team member
SHARE Victorious Living with others
INVITE Kristi to your church or
organization to share what God is doing at KOJM
SUPPORT our publication and
outreaches financially
583
As of November,
inmates are consistently encouraged
by our Prison Correspondence
Outreach team and equipped
spiritually through our monthly
Bible studies.
This is a 37%
increase from last quarter.
This number increases daily.
26 www.kojministries.org

RUSSIA UPDATE
Approximately 1,000 pieces of jewelry were
distributed to Russian orphanage workers and
orphaned girls.
Jewelry for Jesus
by Kristi Overton Johnson
My daughter, Ivy, and I would like to thank those who supported our
“Jewelry for Jesus” outreach to Russia. Years ago, the Lord put on my heart
an ongoing desire to return to the town of Glazov, Russia, the birthplace of
my two youngest children. I want to share the love of Christ through tangible
gifts for those who helped raise my children in the orphanage there. It is
amazing how gifts like scarves and jewelry, coupled with our visits to this
distant region, touch hearts and open doors to share Christ with so many
precious Russian people.
This year, instead of taking scarves as we’d done in the past, we took
jewelry. The idea came about while I was sorting through my jewelry box
and discovered pieces that I had spontaneously purchased and never worn.
As I set them aside as gifts for my hosts, an idea hit me—“I bet many of my
friends have beautiful jewelry abandoned in their boxes too!”
So I put out a simple plea through text and Facebook, and within days,
jewelry was flooding our ministry’s postal box. The response was incredible.
People I didn’t even know generously gave the most beautiful pieces of
jewelry. Talk about an exercise in integrity! I came upon so many pieces I
wanted for myself. But they weren’t for me. They were for those beautiful
women waiting on the other side of the world.
On July 14, Ivy and I rolled seventy-two pounds of costume jewelry onto
a plane headed for Moscow. Then we transferred it to a train where we rode
in a cramped cabin for seventeen hours. But you should have seen our hosts’
reaction when we pulled out this beautiful jewelry. They were like kids in a
candy store!
We estimate a thousand pieces of jewelry were dispersed to teenage
Russian orphans and to the women who care for them. My testimony of faith
and various Christian books donated by Rick Renner Ministries were distributed
there as well.
While I am only
able to communicate
verbally there through
a translator, I know
I can depend on the
international language
of love to invade hearts
— mine and theirs!
This was so evident
during my visit with the
foster grandmother of
one of my daughter’s
siblings.
This kind, hard-working babushka (Russian for grandmother) was sorting
and cleaning freshly picked mushrooms in a wooden shed where she works
(and often sleeps) during the summer. She was working diligently when
I approached her humble abode. She motioned for me to enter and then
pulled out a chair for me. We smiled a mutually affectionate smile, both
secretly wishing we could ask each other a million questions. She rose, put
on the teakettle, and then pushed some delicious Russian chocolates my way.
When she returned to her stool to resume her work, I gave her gifts of
jewelry, handmade soap, and candy. I had chosen a simple necklace for her
that once belonged to my grandmother. She nodded in appreciation and
turned back to her work. Then I handed her my translated testimony. She
wiped her dirt-covered hands and settled in to read the four-page letter. I
waited in silence, wondering how this precious woman would receive the
message of God’s love and the invitation to welcome Jesus into her heart.
I didn’t have long to wait. Tears welled up in her eyes as she read the
heartfelt letter. When finished, she gently folded the note and put it in her
pocket then rose from her chair. She came over and gave me a huge hug as
she whispered over and over one of the few Russian words I know—spasibo,
which means thank you. I would have flown to Russia for that one moment
alone.
Looking at the strand of simulated pearls neatly placed on the mushroomcovered
table, I couldn’t help but smile. It was obvious that God’s gift of
Jesus was way more precious to her than the jewelry, chocolates, and fancy
soap. Her reaction made that crystal clear. Yet I know that every time she
dons her pearls or lathers up in the soap, she will no doubt think of the love
that accompanied these gifts.
Watching the Holy Spirit at work in that shed was amazing. I didn’t
have to say one word. I only needed to be where God had sent me, and I
only needed to pen the words He had placed on my heart. He took care of
the rest, speaking volumes to the heart of that babushka while my mouth
remained shut. God is the One who draws all men to Himself, not us. We are
just His messengers of love in various ways.
I thank you again for making this outreach possible. We hope to return
with more gifts next year, Lord willing, so that God can invade more hearts
with His love. If you have gently used jewelry that you’d like to donate to this
unique outreach, please send it to: KOJ Ministries, PO Box 120951, Clermont,
FL 34712. Please clean the jewelry and separate it into small plastic bags. V
www.kojministries.org 27

MINISTRY NEWS
UPDATE FROM IN HIS WAKES
DIRECTOR, NATE MILLER
In His Wakes introduces people to
the life-changing power of Jesus
Christ through water sports.
IHW concluded our seven-month,
national A Day to Remember tour
with successful events at Camp
Blanding, where we ministered to
200
cadets from the
Florida Youth
Challenge through
watersports activities, with 75 youth
responding to the gospel.
With God all things are possible!
We are grateful for the favor that
God often gives IHW to minister
to youth in secular settings. He
opens doors that blow even our
minds! For example, IHW held our
first public school event in Texas
in connection with the National
Day of Prayer. Over the course of
two days, we shared the gospel
four times in various places
and formats. The Lord moved
powerfully, and a flood of young
people responded to His message
of hope, purpose, and victory.
Although founded by Kristi Overton Johnson,
In His Wakes is independent of KOJM. If you desire
to make a donation to IHW, please go online at
inhiswakes.com or send donations to:
PO Box 120987 • Clermont, FL 34712-0987
Nate Miller • 352-745-0283
www.inhiswakes.com
WANT TO HELP?
PURCHASE Bibles, dog tags, medals,
and other resources to be used in
our “A Day to Remember” program.
BECOME a monthly supporter. We need 100
people to commit to $50 a month.
SPONSOR a child to attend an event.
(Cost is $100 per child.)
In Loving Memory of Ron
Curll
Ron was a true inspiration to each of us on the
In His Wakes team and the many whose lives
he touched, as he faithfully served alongside us
at every Greenville event.
THANK YOU FOR
YOUR FINANCIAL
PARTNERSHIP!
You help us fulfill the Great
Commission as we go throughout
the country proclaiming the
GOOD NEWS!
59
events
hosted
in
22
states
1,300
participants
23,000
miles traveled
100 S
of salvation
decisions
28 www.kojministries.org

Plans are underway for the most
impactful year ever in 2016!
Please keep IHW in your prayers.
We have been presented with incredible
opportunities to dramatically increase our impact.
No Rope-a-Dopes! by
Nate Miller
I’m a good sleeper. I fall asleep fast and sleep straight through the night,
unless a strange noise or the Lord stirs me before the alarm sounds a new day.
Not too long ago, I woke at 2:00 a.m. Since there hadn’t been an unfamiliar
noise, I knew the Lord must have awakened me.
My wife and I were dealing with some challenges and difficulties, both
in our personal lives and in our watersports ministry, In His Wakes. It wasn’t
anything new. Attacks come, usually in waves, and they were mounting at the
time. In fact, I’d been tempted to hunker down and withdraw from the world
until life improved.
I lay there that morning talking with God about the trials facing us, and
suddenly, the words “don’t be a rope-a-dope Christian” popped into my head.
I had never thought of this phrase before, and I was somewhat proud of the
clever analogy I’d just come up with.
I knew where the phrase had come from—in the early ’70s, Muhammad
Ali used a boxing technique he called the “rope-a-dope.” Basically, he would
lean against the boxing ring ropes, cover his head with his gloves, and use
his arms to protect the vital areas of his body. His strategy was to wear out
the opponent by allowing them to repeatedly punch his body, even while he
protected important areas. Ali’s success in using this technique was mixed at
best. All I remember is watching round after boring round of one man throwing
all the punches while Ali rested against the ropes.
I began to think about people who are living what could be called a ropea-dope
Christian life. When Satan comes at them with various trials, they curl
up in a corner, cover up, and hope that eventually he’ll wear out and stop his
relentless attacks. I’ve been in that position myself. The problem is that in the
ring of life, our adversary is very determined, and he doesn’t tire easily. In fact,
Satan will continue his attacks until the Lord puts a permanent end to his reign
on earth.
Through this illustration, the Lord reminded me of the power and authority
He has given me as a believer to stand against anything and everything
that comes against me. I don’t have to hunker down while the devil puts a
pounding on me. Neither do you. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, we can
overcome. James 4:7 says when we resist the devil—when we don’t give in
to him—he will flee.
Sometimes giving up looks easier than standing firm. I know; it’s hard to
move forward. Too often I feel like Paul who said in 1 Thessalonians 2:18, “We
wanted very much to come to you…but Satan prevented us.” There have
been many times for my wife and I when Satan has buffeted us and hindered
our route. But when we claimed the promises of God and stood strong in His
power and authority against the enemy, victory came.
We don’t have to succumb to the
trials of life or the attacks of our
enemy. Through the power of God
within us, we can overcome.
The same power that raised
Jesus Christ from the dead
lives in us and enables us to
be victorious. Therefore, we
can “be strong in the Lord
and in His mighty power”
(Ephesians 6:10). We don’t
have to be afraid, for “God
has not given us a spirit
of fear and timidity, but
of power” (2 Timothy
1:7). These and many
verses remind us
that, with God
on our side,
victory is always
ours. Satan
is an already
defeated foe.
Christ defeated
him on the cross
of Calvary over two
thousand years ago.
Don’t let the challenges
and difficulties of life get the best
of you. With Christ and the power of His Spirit,
you can get up, stand strong, and move forward at all times.
Life doesn’t have to be wearisome and cause you to long for better days
in eternity. I think of an old hymn so many Christians sing: “Just a few more
weary days, and then I’ll fly away.” The Lord actually promises us an abundant,
victorious life full of joy and peace here on earth, right now. But you won’t
discover that life if you’re leaning against the ropes.
At every event, our ministry team teaches the In His Wakes participants
that victory—whether on the water or in life—only comes when we get off
the dock. I guess it could also be said that victory only comes when we get
off the ropes. V
www.kojministries.org 29

God Made
a Way
by Calvin M.
Greetings to you in the blessed name of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I and the brothers
here at Avon Park Work Camp are doing great.
The fire is still burning! Oh, what a glorious
time we had during your visit.
Kristi, it puts a big smile on my face to hear
people say on the yard or in the dining hall,
“God really blessed my soul through Kristi
Overton Johnson. Brother Calvin, can you
please ask her to come back?”
That is what ministry is all about—changing
lives. The love and the compassion you have
for people is overwhelming. As I write this
letter, I’m crying, because the scripture says
“when I was in prison, you visited me.” Not
only did you visit me, you visited my brothers in
the fight also. Oh, how blessed we are to have
a servant of the Most High to visit us.
Kristi, I love you like my natural sister. It’s like
we came out of the same womb. You can tell
GOD ALSO OPENED MY
SPIRITUAL EYES AND
SHOWED ME THAT I
COULD READ AND
UNDERSTAND THE
SCRIPTURES, TOO.
your husband, Tim, that he has a black brotherin-law.
Ha ha. All jokes aside, I really love you
like that. I tell my Christian brothers that you
are my biological sister. Some ask how, and I
just say we have different mothers, but the
same daddy. God.
As soon as I finish writing you, I will be
writing my spiritual mama, Mrs. Linda. She
always has the right words at the right time
for me.
Kristi, Jesus asked Peter three times in John
21:15–17, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter’s
response was, “You know I love you.” The Lord
then said, “Then feed my sheep.” Kristi, your
ministry is feeding God’s sheep in so many
ways. I thank God for you and your team.
Before I go, let me tell you a little bit more
about myself. I couldn’t read or write, but I
got my GED while in prison. It took me three
times to pass the test. I went through a lot of
heartache and pain getting my GED.
Many people told me that I was dumb and
said I’d never pass that test. The only hope I
had was a God who was willing to help me if I
was willing to help myself. Not only did I pass
my GED, but God also opened my spiritual
eyes and showed me that I could read and
understand the scriptures, too.
I started reading the Bible and am reading
it to this day—the King James Version even!
It was really hard to read at first because it
uses old-fashioned English and says things like
thee and thou and other challenging words.
But I look at it this way—if God can make
a donkey speak, He can surely help me read
and write! It’s still a challenge at times, but
I’m determined to learn every day. I love your
motto, “Hit It!” I’m waking up every day and
saying “hit it” to God.
Well, I’m ending this letter in the care
of Jesus. Please tell your family hello.
And please come back soon
to visit us, as well as visit
the brothers at the main unit.
They need the gospel too.
Yours in Christ,
Brother Calvin
PS. Kristi, we
have a team
of men here
praying and fasting
all of the time. And
we are praying for KOJ
Ministries!
UNIQUELY YOU | from page 7
rebuke them for making such comparisons. They didn’t
have a problem with feelings of inferiority, as I struggled
with earlier in life. Instead, they had an issue with feelings
of superiority and were in fierce competition with each
other to prove who was the best of the best among them.
Paul wrote this verse to rebuke the Corinthian believers
for making comparisons, exhorting them to stop their
infighting as they tried to prove who was the most spiritual
among them.
However, there is a principle in this verse that the Holy
Spirit used to help set me free from the spirit of inferiority
that tried to plague me as I stepped out to obey God’s
call on my life. And it is exactly the point I want to get
across to you today. God intentionally made you different
from others. You are actually a result of His divine design.
Your mannerisms, insights, and style that are different from
others may be the very qualities that make you uniquely
positioned to fulfill a specific need.
Of course, we all have areas in our lives that need to be
changed, and God will show those areas one at a time. But
if you will simply quit comparing yourself to others today—
if you will stop disparaging the very qualities that cause
you to stand out from those around you—you will open
the door to freedom from a spirit of inferiority so that your
unique gifts can begin to shine brightly as God intended.
In my own case, what I thought was something
negative—having a different teaching style than others—
was the very thing that made me uniquely qualified to fulfill
my call. When I finally understood that God was the one
who made me different, I began to see that I could shine
His light in ways that others could not. What I thought
would hold me back was actually what gave me my place
in His plan! When I began to accept who God made me to
be, I was freed from the devil’s mental assault and began
to step out of the shadows so God could use me in greater
ways. I was finally able to embrace the uniqueness that
made me shine differently from others.
That can be your story too! You can make the decision
today that you won’t go down that bumpy, twisted road of
comparing yourself to others and always coming up short,
ever again. Today you’re going to start celebrating the
differences that make you uniquely you!
• Have you ever struggled with being different from
others? In what ways do you think you are different
from other people?
• After reading this, can you see how being unique puts
you in a category of your own? Why not take a few
minutes to write down the ways that being unique is a
positive factor in your life.
• How can you maximize your uniqueness? Every
product is known because it has something to offer
that other products don’t offer. What do you have
to offer that distinguishes you from other people? If
you don’t know or you aren’t sure, ask God to show
you. Perhaps you could ask others who know you—I
believe they could share some positive insights that
will help you on your journey to freedom. V
30 www.kojministries.org

Thank you to the following organizations who faithfully support Victorious Living with annual gifts in excess of $ 500.
When asked why they give, they respond, “Because we care!”
They care about people, and they desire to help many discover true victory.
WHY
I CARE
As a pastor, I am encouraged by the kingdom impact
Victorious Living has on so many lives. Matthew 25:34–
46 clearly instructs us to come to those in prison.
While not every church member can physically enter
a prison to share the love, grace, and forgiveness of
God, we know that the gospel is making its way in
through this publication.
First Baptist Starke is honored to support this
outreach financially and by praying for and writing
letters of encouragement to the inmates. We praise
the Lord for the lives that have been changed for His
glory. I encourage other churches to follow Jesus’s
teachings and join us in ministering to “the least of
these” by supporting Victorious Living.
Scott A. Crook
First Baptist Church Starke, FL
There is room for your name on this list!
Thank you, as well, to the individuals and
foundations who have supported this outreach.
American Solutions for Business
cstallings@americanbus.com
Captain’s Party Rentals
captainspartyrentals.com
Community Church of Keystone Heights
communitychurchofkeystoneheights.org
Davis Gas
davisgas.com
Discount Inboard Marine
skidim.com
First Baptist of Starke
fbcstarke.org
Greater Greenville Foundation
Keystone Plumbing
keystoneplumbinginc@yahoo.com
Loving Hands Pet Sitting
lovinghandspets.com
Nautique Boat Company
nautique.com
Saturday Night Wonders
ephesians-4-prayer-fellowship.com
The Clipping Corner
Melrose, FL
The Trophy Shop
thetrophyshop.com
www.kojministries.org 31

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FREEDOM
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Clermont, FL 34712-0951
Non Profit Org
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PAID
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Jacksonville, FL
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FREEDOM
People everywhere desperately need to know
about God’s power, love, and grace. With your help and
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a case of each Victorious Living issue
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• Call 352-478-2098 to place order
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or fax to 1-888-837-9153
Send all inmate correspondence to Starke, FL address on page 4.