Dec 24

My Dear Beloved Friends,

As I prepare for our Christmas Eve Service here at Fort Dix it comes to my attention that I am spending my 6th Christmas in prison!?  We have a beautiful service planned for this evening (which I am chairing) as our inmate Christian group gathers to worship the Savior and thank Him for eternal life and so many blessings this past year.  Even as inmates we have so much to be thankful for…surviving Covid (I received all vaccination injections as well as a booster), the chance to study God’s Word intensely, taking a paralegal course here in prison, writing my memoirs, etc..

Next Christmas would mark a 7th Christmas…if I am still in prison at that time.  I recently had an inmate (who has since been released) prophesy over me and tell me that I will not be here by May of 2022?!:)  Did he mean released to the world or released to the Lord? I do not know.  But it is interesting that, “out of the blue”, he made such a bold prediction.  What should my attitude be?  Many of you know that the Lord’s number of summation is 7 (7 days in one week, Israel walking around Jericho, for 7 days before they fell down, etc.) so what might He intend with me?

At this time of remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ I am reminded of the intense expectation that the Jewish people had for the coming Messiah.  It had been 400 years since the Lord spoke directly to his people (the time period from the book of Malachi to Matthew) and they had been waiting with anticipation.  The angelic annunciation of Jesus’ birth to His mother Mary was met with breath taking expectation on her part.  The world was so in need of a Savior.

And now in these post-resurrection times we wait with expectation of His return.  All sickness…all sadness…all death is defeated in and through Him.

So as we look at the upcoming year I am looking with anticipation for the miracles that he is going to perform in all of our lives. His timing is always on time…He is never late…just what anticipation do you have for the upcoming year?  Do you believe that He can deliver?  Do you think He is still in the miracle working business?  Do you know He has a special plan for you?

A beautiful Christmas to all with anticipation for His return…

Much love,

Jeffrey Bado

Dec 31

The trial of incarceration has been a blessing in so many ways that I could never have anticipated.  I wonder…what trial have you been through this past year that may have seemed so egregious at first, only to later realize what a blessing your trial became to you?  Perhaps you have lost a job…or experienced undue pressure at work…or an unexpected loss?  Have you considered that the Lord may intend to bless you with or in spite of your trial?

As you contemplate the past year, my prayer for you is that you “step back” and circumspectly look at just how the Lord has blessed you.  His existence and interest in you is meant to be real and personal.

In fact, I am just wondering whether there may be someone among you (perhaps even yourself) who may have never received the Lord Jesus Christ as your own PERSONAL SAVIOR?  I am going to suggest that you pray the following prayer with me and change your eternal destiny permanently:

“Dear Lord, I realize my sin disqualifies me from meeting Your standard for Heaven.  In fact, no human being has ever existed who could satisfy your requirement for perfection.  But, because You love mankind You had a plan for my future…that You would provide for my perfection through Your Son Jesus Christ. I understand and believe in faith that Jesus died, as my substitute, for my sins.  He paid the price I should have to pay myself (but never could).  By simply accepting Him as my Savior and Lord I now will enjoy eternal life.

Lord, I give You my liberty, my life, and my love.  In Jesus name I pray…and now I am “Born Again”.”

If you prayed that prayer and meant it with all your heart you are now saved (by the way, you could share this prayer with someone you love).  Now that you are saved, find a good Bible teaching and preaching church to continue on in your journey with the Lord.

This is the best New Years gift I could give you all, whether I was incarcerated or not:).

Happy New Year to all.

Jeffrey Bado, Do