Elisabeth Elliot: "I can only speak for myself, not for others. Like I said prior in this letter, I'm in prison and I am happy because I have Jesus in my heart and Him and I always has a wonderful time here in my 8x10 cell."

Lisa Barry: Do you ever felt trapped? Maybe stuck in a situation you have no control over? Or maybe you're tempted to feel trapped in your own home because your children are young and it's hard to get out. Well now that we're in the right frame of mind, let's go one step further and consider what it must feel like to be a prisoner confined to a cell day in and day out. Now maybe that scenario doesn't elicit too much sympathy from the general population, but what if that person in the midst of their confinement found Christ? And what if they were so turned around that they began to inspire and challenge people on the outside?

Well, today on Gateway To Joy, we're about to meet one of those prisoners through a letter sent to Elisabeth. It's a testimony of contentment in the midst of chaos and loneliness.

Elisabeth Elliot: "You are loved with an everlasting love." That's what the Bible says, "and underneath are the everlasting arms." This is your friend, Elisabeth Elliot, continuing my talks today on the subject of stories of passion. The first story is about a vision that Amy Carmichael had once had. Yesterday's story was about that amazing little women named Gladys Aylward and a very well-known woman named Ingrid Bergman who became a Christian because of the testimony of Gladys Aylward. And today I have a contemporary story from somebody who is in prison, and I have entitled it "Contentment" because I think you will know why. This prisoner writes:

"I hope I spelt your name right, please try to bear with me on my spelling and writing this letter. My education is about the level of a 6th grader as far as writing letters and spelling goes but I am very good at learning things in fact or as far as doing things with my hands--figuring things out and how things work. Okay, enough babbling" and then this person puts a little smiley face at the end of that sentence.

"The reason I'm writing you is because I listen to you on the radio, on the same station that I listen to right along with many other Christian programs. I have recently found the Lord as my Christ and my Savoir and ma'am it sure is wonderful that I have been set free. I am 38 years old, a white male, 6"2', 247 pounds, gray hair--well you might say white hair now. I'm in prison doing a 25 year minimum mandatory with natural life. I ain't asking for anything 'cuz most people out there always think and feel inmates are always wanting something.

"I can only speak for myself and not for others. Like I said prior in this letter, I'm in prison and I am happy because I have Jesus in my heart and Him and I always has a wonderful time here in my 8x10 cell. I have never been this happy before in my entire life, and been keeping in prison. If that's what it takes to stay strong in the Lord then I rather stay right here. 'Cuz, ma'am, Jesus went through more for me than anything possible I owe Him, my life I can never repay him enough.

"And I crave His Way, His Word, and His Will. Praise God they can lock me away but they can't lock Jesus away from me. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for helping so many others out there, husbands and wives. Myself, yes I'm married but my wife told me she couldn't keep our marriage vows and that she don't feel the same about me. I guess I don't blame her and I can understand 'cuz most of us has to have that physical touch with more than the mental.

"But we all need both physical and mental. My wife married me 6 yr. ago here in prison when I first met her through someone else that was writing her niece. My wife asked her niece if her friend Paul knowed someone worth writing and he came to me. So her and I started writing. Then she asked me if she could come and meet me in person and she did; a month later she asked me to marry her.

"At first I told her that the best thing for her to do was walk out those gates and don't come back. Well, she broke my heart right there and begged me to marry her 'cuz she loved me. I loved her, also still do, more now than when I first met her. But you know a few weeks ago I turned my life to Jesus Christ and I'm happy and free not 'cuz of her--'cuz I was tired living the way it was and finally realized the only way was to let the Lord come into my life

"And I did, and He controls me. I'll be here in prison paying my debt; I will live here behind these walls my remaining days on earth. Then I shall go meet the Lord on the other side. I don't have anything of value. All I own I can put in 2 paper bags. But I do have something that's worth more anything in the world and you know what it is, yes you're right--Jesus Christ my Savior.

"Once again, let me thank you for helping others out there. I've listened to you many times on FM and AM. I enjoy listening to your program and giving others advice; when you're on in the morning and people call you and I get to listen to their questions and your advice. Well I best close this letter before I get too carried away more than I already have. Thank you once again! May God bless you and your family. This is just a little note to brighten up your way, to remind you're truly loved each minute of the way. This is my prayer for you today: That God's love multiply back to you all the joy that you've given to others."

And he signs his name. His first name is Dallas and I am so grateful Dallas, and I hope you are listening today. Thank you for that wonderful testimony of a changed life. One more story of passion; you have a new passion in your life now don't you? And I hope there are good many others prisoners who are listening who can learn that Jesus Christ is there in the cell with you. He loves you with an everlasting love.

Now another letter:

"While listening to Gateway To Joy the other day I heard you describe yourself as a worrywart and it reminded me of a cute story I heard a while back. George had a friend named Sam who was a chronic worrier. He was always worrying about anything and everything imaginable. One day George met Sam on the street and Sam was smiling and relaxed and didn't seem worried about anything.

"After few minutes of casual conversation George had to ask 'Sam, what's wrong? You don't seem worried about anything?' Sam says, 'I'm not.' George, 'Why not, you're always worrying about everything under the sun?' Sam, 'I'll tell you why George. I've hired a professional worrier to do all my worrying for me.' George says, 'A professional worrier? I never heard of such a thing, how does it work?' Sam, 'Real simple, I pay him to do all of my worrying for me.'

"George says, 'Oh. How much does he charge you to do all of your worrying for you?' '$10,000 a year,' says Sam. '$10,000 a year! That's ridiculous Sam, I know how much you make. You can't afford to pay this guy $10,000 a year. How do you expect to pay him all this money?' Sam says, 'That's for him to worry about!'"

And the lady who sent me this says, "When I told this little story to my husband, Frank, we laughed at it first and then we decided that it would be a good idea for us to let Jesus do all of our worrying for us. I wish I could just say that it worked. Frank is not much of a worrier by nature, but I am. When Frank prays he says, 'Lord, you've heard our prayers now you do what's best.' I'm afraid I try to be God's counselor and tell him what is the best thing to do." And I think I, Elisabeth Elliot, am always prone to tell God what I think he ought to do.

Her letter goes on to say, "We're going to learn that that's not our job. It's God's job to tell us what to do, and our job to do it. I try to rationalize by saying to God, 'But Lord, you gave a brain and you expect me to use it.' However, there is a very fine line between reasoning and worrying and most of us don't know the difference.

"This is what I wrote in my journal a while back, 'Lord Jesus there is a time to wait and a time to act, and I need your wisdom to know when to do what.' God bless you in your ministry Elisabeth, and may we both learn how to more completely trust and obey and leave it all in His very capable hands."

And you've heard me say that's the end of her letter, but you've heard me say more than once that I was a born worrier. And I think both of my parents had a streak of that in them as well, but you know what the Bible says. The Bible is very clear and straightforward and it says "Don't worry about anything whatever, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God."

What are your requests today? Remember, go to God and by prayer and supplication make those requests known. Do you think He will listen? Of course He will; He's been waiting for you to turn it over to him. Quit the worrying and start giving thanks for everything. May God give you grace and blessing.

Lisa Barry: Well, as we close for today, I'd like to take just a minute or two and mention the resources we've been making available this week. First of all, if today's testimonies were helpful, then you'll want to purchase a copy of this one-week series. It's called "Stories of Passion." The cost is 5.00. Yesterday we heard the incredible story of Gladys Aylward and the book that tells the story is called The Little Woman. It would be a great addition to your collection of Christian biographies. And if you don't have a collection started yet, this would be a great way to get it going. If you'd like to contact us for information on either of the resources I've mentioned today, we'd be happy to help you. Our mailing address is:

Gateway To Joy, Box 82500, Lincoln, NE 68501. That's Gateway To Joy, Box 82500, Lincoln, NE 68501. Or, call toll free 1-800-75-94-JOY. That's 1-800-75-94-569. Or, dial up our Web site at gatewaytojoy.org. You can order books, find daily devotionals and much more. That address again is gatewaytojoy.org.

Gateway To Joy has been a production of Back to the Bible and is supported by the generous gifts of people like you. We are not underwritten by any large corporation. Listeners meet all of our days to day needs; people who want Elisabeth to keep telling the truth about the Bible, culture and the road to obedience. If that's what you want, too, then we welcome your involvement.

Tomorrow, we'll hear the story of a blind mother. So make it a point to hear that story, the next time we meet for Gateway To Joy.