It is hard to believe that Christmas is just one week away. The years seem to fly by faster and faster! This year however will go down in my history book as being the most significant. God reached down and touched my heart in such a way that I will never forget. I have written soooo much, just over the past few months, trying my best to capture and explain the special gift that God has given me – true freedom.

What a difference a year makes! At the beginning of 08, I was: drug addicted (going on my 17^th year), jobless, crushed spirited, fearful of dying from 28+ years of smoking, hopeless because I was self-destructing, depressed because my mom was dying, and simply, I was a time bomb ready to explode from all of the emotions within me that needed to be released.

Many of you have witnessed many of these emotions through my writings thus far, and have witnessed many miracles, as God poured out His blessings upon me time and time again – to the point of causing me to shout my excitement from the MOUNTAIN TOPS! I may have been able to keep my deep dark secrets within me for decades, but what God has done for me this year, just had to be told to the entire world!!!

I am truly amazed and shocked that God chose me, someone with OCD (a disorder that causes one to FEAR everything) to share (with many) my many deep dark secrets (in writing). If it has seemed as though I have been boasting in my writings, then you are correct in your assumption. I have been boasting (in Jesus), and I will keep on boasting all the days of my life!!! God has given me so much to boast about!!! God has revealed to me many revelations (on an as needed basis), and many ‘non-secrets’ that I have literally spent a lifetime looking for.

The truth is so hard to come by in today's society, and I’m thankful that God has given me the truth by the very book that I was told time and time again, throughout my entire life, to read – The Bible. My intensions in reading the Bible, was simply this: To leave a legacy to my children that their dad wasn’t all that bad. One of my fondest memories was that of my father reading from the Bible. Many years ago, I remember him, day in and day out, reading from the Bible, and I wanted to leave the same legacy to my sweet children, Lauren and Jack. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that by me ‘just for show’ reading the Bible (specifically the Red words) that my life would be transformed and delivered from many years of bondage. Praise God!!!  Thank you God!!!

Oh, how I wish that I would have taken the time to read God’s Words sooner!!! I found out that Jesus was more than just a Savior. I don’t mean ‘Just’ a Savior, a Savior is more than enough for me, and God’s Grace and Mercy truly was more than enough for me – for God’s sake – HE KEPT ME ALIVE – when all along I should have been plucked from this earth by not producing much fruit. I found by reading the Bible, that Jesus Christ is my friend, my friend indeed. When my life seemed to crumble around me, year in and year out, Jesus was there, and has always been there by my side!!!

I could literally write a novel right now (and you know that I could) just on who Jesus is, and what He has done for me, and what He can do for you…but in order to finish this letter, I encourage you to experience Jesus for yourself.

Just let me say this, I truly have seen miracles daily!!! I could fill a book now full of miracles, just from the miracles that I have witnessed this past year. It hurts my heart to know that Thomas Jefferson, removed from his two Bibles, all of the miracles. He said that miracles were just superstition. President Jefferson is entitled to his beliefs, but oh how I wish he could have experienced the miracles that I have experienced this year. I am 100% sure that he witnessed miracles (but with blinders on due to his disbelief). God has shown little-oh-me that if I can just believe, I will see miracles happen!!! I was once blind, but now I see!!!

I went from being tired and depressed, planning my funeral, to a bright-eyed, too excited to sleep, joyful little boy, that has witnessed enough of God’s love, that no one, and I mean no one will ever be able to take God’s love away from me!!!

My prayer and my hope is that you are hearing me!!!  If not, please begin reading this letter from the top, and don’t stop reading this letter until you understand that God is REAL. That God loves you, yes YOU! Stop your doubting – GOD IS REAL! Stop looking for a sign, let this letter and my life be a sign to you!!! I am LIVING proof that there is a God!!!

I found out that I couldn’t end my drug addiction on my own! I found out that I needed help – and in a BIG way (from God). Most of all, I found what it means to LIVE. How to live without constant fear, how to live with hope, how to live without drugs, how to find my strength in God and God alone, how to love others, how to give beyond logic, how to dream big, how to spend time with God, how to have passion for LIFE, but most of all, I have learned that NO MATTER WHAT - God is ready to HUG me whenever I need a HUG – which is ALL THE TIME, yes, HE (GOD) HUGS ME ALL THE TIME, because I am now asking Him for a HUG!!!

What a miracle, to be hugged and loved by GOD!!! If you are looking for a sign, then let the moment Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross be that sign. You and I didn’t deserve to be saved, we all deserve Hell, even on our best day, we deserve Hell, especially when we compare ourselves to Jesus (which there is NO comparison)!

If I have already preached the following, I will preach the following a thousand times more. Despite your feelings of being insignificant, God sees you as being a person He created. YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD!!! God can use you in a big way, if you just humble yourself. Be a TRUE witness for Him – just by sharing with others your weaknesses and God’s strengths - God's power will be made perfect through YOU! Just let God know that you are WILLING to be used, even if it’s at your funeral. Be willing to let God use you NO MATTER WHAT, chances are He will let you live and in a BIG WAY!!!

I have learned this year that I can rest. I can have peace, love, joy, faith, hope… I can lay all of my troubles, persecutions, heartaches…directly at Jesus’ feet.  When I lay these burdens down at Jesus’ feet, He reaches down and picks me back up, wipes the tears from my eyes, dusts off my feet, and tells me to keep going. God truly does give me His Grace and New Mercies each and every day!!!  HALLELUJAH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU GOD ALMIGHTY, LORD/FRIEND JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT, and GUARDIAN ANGELS!!!

God Bless each and every one of you!!! A special thank you to my dearest encouragers!!! And may your Christmas and New Year be filled with God’s love, peace, hope, joy...freedom!

Free, Free Indeed!!!

In His Hands,

Love, Glen

P.S. I am also here for you. If you need for me to pray, or just need a friend to talk with, I am willing. I am usually awake in the wee hours (starting around 3:30am or 4am) if you need to talk (937) 450-4332. I work a full day, but am off the next two weeks starting 12/20/08. I care about your addictions, and I will not judge or ‘nark’ you out (if you are hurting a child however, please do not tell me, unless you want my ADVICE). God is real, and He does love YOU (even if you are/or have hurt a child/children)!!! My e-mail address is joyful@iamfreeindeed.org  Please reach out for help!!!  The Red Words in the Bible is a great place to start. I encourage you to read the inspiration “RED – The Color of Truth” (at this website – under Mid-Night Meditations) to find out more information about the Red Words (what Jesus said). I have found that if you just try and make time for God, He will in return take time for you!

In Jesus Name, Amen.