VL - Issue 43- April 22

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STEPPING FORWARD Restored to Usefulness I HAVE HEARD THAT ONE person’s junk is another person’s treasure. One of my favorite hobbies is to wander through thrift stores looking for a bargain. The aisles contain things that might qualify as junk to some, but for some reason, their previous owner donated them instead of dumping them. I love it when I find something that I need or that I know I might use. On a recent treasure hunt, I found an old guitar collecting dust behind a counter. I recognized it right away as a Yamaha. The color of the wood of an acoustic guitar can help identify its age. The older the guitar, the richer the tone. By the dark, almost orange tint of this one, I could tell it had seen many years and plenty of tough times. It looked water damaged and had a large crack in its upper side. Its neck was bowed, and residue caked its strings. Despite these blemishes, I decided that this old Yamaha needed a home and some tender love and care. With a little negotiating, I bought it for $60. The case I carried it home in looked even worse than the guitar itself. I took my new treasure to my favorite guitar repair guy, Bobby. He’s a master at repairing instruments. He looked it over and shook his head. “Bad, huh?” I asked. “Not good,” he replied. “I think we can fix her up so she’ll at least be playable though.” “That’s all I want.” I left knowing the old guitar was in capable hands. Two weeks later, the repairs were complete. I was excited to go pick up my restored treasure. BY KENNY MUNDS Bobby had a big smile on his face when I walked in. “Try her out and tell me if she’s okay.” I was more than pleased. Bobby had worked a miracle to bring the old instrument back to life. To top it off, he only charged me for the strings. Talk about God’s favor in action! My “new” Yamaha has a beautifully rich sound and a renewed purpose. I even take it to prison events and tell this story during my performances to encourage those who think a restored life is out of reach. Many people think there’s no hope, that God couldn’t possibly want or use them for anything good. But 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (NIV). Every one of us is in bad shape before we are “purchased” by God through the blood of His precious Son. We might feel beaten down, tossed aside, and abandoned with little hope, but when we put our faith in Jesus, we put ourselves into the hands of the master repairman. No matter what dark place we’ve come from, He gives us lives full of meaning and purpose that we never thought possible. I’ve witnessed this hundreds of times in the lives of people I have ministered to. I’ve seen lost souls surrender to Jesus behind prison walls, and as they grow older and wiser and their roots in the Lord grow down deep, their knowledge and perception deepen as well. They become beautiful instruments that God uses to teach and mentor the younger inmates coming in fresh off the street. Jesus warned us that we would not live without difficulty, but we can all cling to the promise that He will restore us, confirm us, strengthen us, and establish us by His grace (1 Peter 5:10). Occasionally, I’ll take my old Yamaha guitar in to repair a crack here and there. In the same way, sometimes life causes damage to me—and when it does, I make another visit to the foot of the cross, and I pray that I will remain a useful instrument despite the wounds I’ve suffered. Do you need restoration? It doesn’t matter whose fault it is or how you got to where you are—in God’s eyes, you are not junk. Your life is valuable to Him. If you are willing to put everything that is damaged into the hands of the master repairman, He will keep His promise to clean you up and make you new and useful once more (2 Timothy 2:20–21). KENNY MUNDS takes the good news of God’s love and forgiveness into prisons across America. To learn more about his ministry, go to kennymundsministry.org. 32 Issue 02 / 2022 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
GOING DEEPER: Be Courageous On page 26, you read the story of Mary Beth Barefoot’s lifelong struggle with emotional instability and how she isolated herself from others and from God. Eventually, she realized she was trapped behind walls she had built for herself and needed help to break free. God patiently waited for Mary Beth to invite Him into her life. She had to face the shame, anger, bitterness, and fear that were keeping her from receiving God’s best for her life. She had to become vulnerable, first to God, and then to others. But when she took that leap of faith, God healed her wounded heart and set her free. She was no longer a prisoner to her emotions. Do you ever feel distant from God? From others? Are you isolating yourself? Why? List a few reasons: 1. 2. 3. Whatever you are facing, God already knows about it. He encourages you to bring everything to Him. God is ready to help you in every way. Look up the following verses about courage in the Bible. Write them out, then med- itate on them and ask the Lord to fill you with His strength and courage. Deuteronomy 31:6–8 Joshua 1:6, 9 1 Chronicles 28:20 Psalms 23:1; 27:14; 31:24 Isaiah 41:10, 13 Philippians 4:13 2 Timothy 1:7 Hebrews 4:16 God has a lot to say about trusting Him with your burdens and fears. He’s here to set you free, so let your walls down. Mary Beth received blessings when she opened herself to the Lord; you will too. DO YOU NEED REST? “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28 NIV Jared Emerson, Artist, jaredemerson.com Do you need rest? Peace? Freedom? Forgiveness? Restoration? Call out to Jesus, accept Him as your Savior, and be made whole. Pray: “Jesus, I invite You into my life. I confess that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Thank You for saving me from my sins and making me whole. Thank You for laying down Your life for me so that I can have a new life in You. I receive, by faith, this forgiveness of sin. Take my life, my past and my future. Guide my steps and speak to my heart, Lord. Use me, God. Amen.” Let us know of your decision so we can help you grow in your faith. Write to: VL Correspondence, PO Box 2751, Greenville, NC 27836. VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM Issue 02 / 2022 33
Page 1 and 2: REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL H
Page 3 and 4: ISSUE 2, APRIL 2022 Be of good cour
Page 5 and 6: ISSUE 2, APRIL 2022 CONTENTS 8 24 2
Page 7 and 8: Through the stories of Victorious L
Page 9 and 10: TRANSFORMED LIVES God’s Faithfuln
Page 11 and 12: PHOTOS COURTESY OF MYPILLOW I had a
Page 13 and 14: PHOTOS COURTESY OF MYPILLOW bragged
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Page 19 and 20: invited anyone who wanted to receiv
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Page 23 and 24: stuck, Melisha!” His words helped
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Page 27 and 28: PHOTO BY OPENDOOR CHURCH All I coul
Page 29 and 30: STEPPING FORWARD Trust God, Even Wh
Page 31: could see that God was at work as m

VL - Issue 43- April 22

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