No Pillows!

February 14, 2019

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your continued prayers, support and the mail that I received from many of you. I cherish every prayer and every piece of mail that I receive.  Often, when I read the encouragements you send, it brings tears to my eyes.

I’d imagine, Kathie is going through even a more difficult time than I am here in prison, which is actually quite an easy-going life – except for NO pillow, a very uncomfortable mattress and repetitious food and very boring. I have much to be thankful for and praise the Lord for.  I am certain that my brothers and sisters in the Lord imprisoned for [their] faith in other nations have it much, much more difficult than me.

I am also grateful for those organizations and attorneys who’ve filed Amicus Briefs to the United States Supreme Court on my behalf.  My understanding is that my case is the first on their docket for this year, scheduled for conference on Friday, February 22, to decide whether r not they’ll take the case. So, please pray!

God has given me a fair number of opportunities to speak into the lives of other men here in FCI Ashland and I covet your prayers in that regard.  God has given me great favor with other men in our unit, for which I’m thankful.  I feel very unworthy in this role and desire to represent my Lord and Savior in an impeccable manner. We have a short prayer time each night with a number of men now, and I lead a Bible Study each Saturday at noon in my unit with two or three other men. Neither of these events were going on prior to my coming. At this point, there are two men in particular very eager to learn everything they can about the Bible and living a Christian life.

At times, I do get very homesick, but God is sustaining me. His Spirit can just overwhelm me in inexplicable ways, and I am so grateful when that happens.

One late afternoon, walking back to my building from supper, I looked up to see a perfectly formed, probably 4-5 foot “V” formed on the side of my building. The first thing I thought of was that it was a sign from the Lord specifically for me. It was a cloudy afternoon, and I’ve never seen before in all my years, the sun and clouds form such a perfectly, straight sign. It was so incredible and so I thought, or the devil gave me the thought, that it was just an imperfection in the brickwork on the side of the building. But, the next day, it was not there.  I am convinced, it was a sign from God just for me!

I do not know how or when God will provide the victory, but I know it will be in a manner that He alone gets the glory. In the meantime, Kathie and I are called to be patient, endure, and wait upon the Lord’s perfect timing.  In the meantime, I enjoy spending extra time studying God’s Word and praying.

Thank you for standing with us. I know without you it would be very, very difficult. God bless you!

In His Service,

Philip