Andrew Farley

On+September+25%2C+2007%2C+I+took+a+good+hard+look+at+my+life.++I+realized+that+if+I+continued+on+the+path+I+was+traveling+that+I+would+soon+end+up+dead+or+in+prison.++My+life+had+been+spiraling+out+of+control.++I+had+become+unhindered+by+conscience+and+lived+however+I+wanted+to+live+doing+whatever+I+wanted+to+do.++I+fell+into+promiscuous+behaviors%2C+excessive+drinking%2C+and+drug+use.++I+looked+to+theese+things+to+bring+me+joy%2C+peace+of+mind%2C+and+security.++Instead%2C+they+brought+me+pain%2C+misery%2C+and+destruction.++I+hurt+people+whom+I+considered+friends+and+who+trusted+me+to+have+their+best+interest+at+heart.++I+took+advantage+of+relationships+to+achieve+my+own+selfish+goals.++In+short%2C+I+lives+up+ro+my+sinful+human+nature.%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnThankfully%2C+on+September+25%2C+I+found+my+way+back+to+God.++Or+rather%2C+He+brought+me+back+to+Him.++I+fell+prostrate+befor+God+and+wept+for+His+mercy+and+His+forgivness.++I+turned+from+my+wicked+ways+and+sought+His+face.++He%2C+in+turn%2C+forgave+me+for+every+sin+I+committed+and+began+to+heal+my+land.++These+last+four+months%2C+I+have+been+happier+than+I+have+EVER+been+in+my+ENTIRE+life.++I+see+things+through+the+eyes+of+Christ.++I+have+made+Him+Lord+over+my+life%2C+my+home%2C+and+my+family.++NEVER+again+will+I+return+to+the+way+I+used+to+live%21%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnGod+has+been+teaching+me+that+my+salvation+equates+to+the+forgivness+of+my+sins+but+not+the+eradication+of+the+consequences+of+those+sinful+actions.++I+must+still+deal+with+those+consequences%2C+but+God+has+shown+me+that+He+WILL+be+with+me+EVERY+step+of+the+way.++One+of+those+consequences+landed+me+in+jail+for+a+while.++But+God+proved+true+to+His+word%2C+he+never+left+my+side%21++He+used+me+in+that+jail+cell+to+be+a+witness+and+plant+seads+of+redemption+in+the+lives+of+others%2C+guards+and+inmates+alike%21%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnTO+GOD+BE+THE+GLORY%21%21%21%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnI+can+best+share+my+experiences+with+you+through+a+poem+that+I+wrote+entitled+%5C%22Prodigal+Son.%5C%22++As+you+read+the+poem+I+hope+and+pray+that+it+ministers+to+your+soul.++I+hope+and+pray+that+you+understand+that+their+is+NOTHING+you+have+done+that+God+is+not+willing+and+ready+to+forgive+you+for.++You+are+His+child%2C+created+by+His+hand.++He+sent+His+son+Jesus+to+bear+our+guilt+and+shame+and+to+pay+the+ultimate+price+for+our+sins.He+loves+you+unconditionally+and+He%5C%27s+waiting+with+open+arms+for+you+to+come+home.%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnHere%5C%27s+the+poem%3A%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnProdigal+Son%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnProdigal+son+come+home%5Cr%5CnI+know+things+have+changed+for+you+and%5Cr%5CnYou%5C%27ve+been+walking+through+life+alone%5Cr%5CnFor+a+while%5Cr%5CnThings+haven%5C%27t+gone+quite+like+you%5C%27d+planned+for+them+to+go%5Cr%5CnAnd+dreams+you+had+your+heart+set+on%5Cr%5CnHave+been+trampled+on%5Cr%5CnAnd+spit+on%5Cr%5CnAnd+ripped+and+torn.%5Cr%5CnManny+of+your+hopes+have+been+shattered%5Cr%5CnScattered+to+the+wind+and%5Cr%5CnYou%5C%27ve+been+battered%5Cr%5CnPhysically%5Cr%5Cn++++++++Emotionally%5Cr%5Cn+++++++++++++++++Mentally%5Cr%5Cn+++++++++++++++++++++++++Spiritually%5Cr%5CnBut+you+need+to+come+home+now%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnProdigal+son+come+home%5Cr%5CnI%5C%27ve+been+waiting+for+you%5Cr%5CnI+was+so+sad+to+see+you+go%5Cr%5CnBut+I+had+to+free+you%5Cr%5CnYou+know%5Cr%5CnLike+the+butterfly+in+the+jar%5Cr%5CnLet+it+go%5Cr%5CnIf+it+doesn%5C%27t+come+back+to+you+then+it+wasn%5C%27t+yours+in+the+first+place%5Cr%5CnSo+I+let+you+spread+your+wings+and+fly%5Cr%5CnAnd+told+you+do+or+die%5Cr%5CnYou%5C%27ll+always+have+a+home%5Cr%5CnSo+prodigal+son+come+home%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnProdigal+son+come+home%5Cr%5CnI+know+that+for+a+long+time%5Cr%5CnYou%5C%27ve+blamed+me+for+your+difficulties%5Cr%5CnFor+your+problems%5Cr%5Cn++++++++++For+every+bad+choice+and+stroke+of+bad+luck%5Cr%5Cn++++++++++++++++++++For+every+negative+experience+you%5C%27ve+had%5Cr%5CnWhile+walking+down+your+chosen+path+in+life%5Cr%5CnAnd+I+know+you+feel+hurt%5Cr%5CnBetrayed%5Cr%5Cn++++++++++Abandoned%5Cr%5Cn++++++++++++++++++++Unloved%5Cr%5CnBut+you+are+loved+and+I+am+here%5Cr%5Cnwaiting+to+hear+your+voice%5Cr%5CnNot+to+gloat+or+say+I+told+you+so%5Cr%5CnBut+to+embrace+you+and+give+you+a+shoulder+to+cry+on%5Cr%5Cn++++++++++Give+you+someone+to+rely+on%5Cr%5Cn++++++++++++++++++++Give+you+something+to+get+by+on%5Cr%5CnSomething+you+can+believe+in%5Cr%5CnI+know+your+faith+has+been+tried%5Cr%5CnAnd+you%5C%27ve+spiritually+died%5Cr%5CnBut+it%5C%27s+time+to+come+alive%5Cr%5CnTime+to+rise+from+the+dirt+and+dust+off+the+hurt+you%5C%27ve+felt%5Cr%5CnBecause+of+the+hand+life%5C%27s+dealt%5Cr%5CnIt%5C%27s+time+to+live%5Cr%5CnTime+to+come+home%5Cr%5CnCome+on+home%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnProdigal+son+come+home%5Cr%5CnYou+don%5C%27t+have+to+waddle+with+the+pigs%5Cr%5CnOr+dig+through+the+mud+in+search+of+some+rotten+morsel%5Cr%5CnWondering+if+it+can+get+any+wores+though%5Cr%5CnYou+left+home+with+such+riches%5Cr%5CnOr+what+you+thought+would+make+you+rich%5Cr%5CnAnd+when+the+answers+you+thought+you+had+proved+wrong%5Cr%5CnAnd+when+the+friends+you+thought+you+had+were+gone%5Cr%5CnAnd+depression+and+self-pity+started+draging+you+along%5Cr%5CnYou+remembered+your+home%5Cr%5CnIt%5C%27s+time+to+come+home%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnProdigal+son+come+home%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnIf+this+poem+of+my+testimony+has+touched+your+heart+and+you+want+to+give+your+life+to+God+for+the+first+time%2C+or+if+you%5C%27ve+strayed+away+from+your+walk+with+Christ+and+want+to+come+back+home%2C+or+if+your+walk+has+all+been+on+the+surface+and+you+haven%5C%27t+taken+it+to+heart+and+given+God+your+all+then+repeat+this+prayer%3A%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnOh+Father+God%2C+God+of+Heaven+and+Earth%2C+I+have+sinned+against+you+and+come+now+to+ask+for+your+mercy+and+your+forgivness.++I+don%5C%27t+want+to+live+this+life+any+longer.++I+believe+Jesue+died+for+my+sins.++Forgive+me+and+wash+me+in+the+blood+of+Christ.++Make+my+life+pure.++Give+me+a+new+heart%2C+a+heart+that+follows+after+you.++Come+into+my+life+as+Lord+and+Savior.++Thank+you+Lord%2C+for+your+grace%2C+love%2C+mercy%2C+and+forgiveness.++I+love+you+Lord.++In+Jesus%5C%27+name%2C+Amen.%5Cr%5Cn%5Cr%5CnFriends%2C+John+3%3A16+says+that+God+loved+us+so+much+that+he+gave+his+only+Son%2C+that+whoever+%28you%2C+me%2C+anyone+and+everyone%29+would+believe+in+Him+would+not+perish%2C+but+have+everlasting+life.++If+you%5C%27ve+given+your+life+to+Christ+today+then+you+have+eternal+life.++Enjoy+it%21++Stay+strong.++Pray+and+get+into+the+Word+of+God.++Let+God+grow+you+into+the+person+He+wants+you+to+be.