Dear GDW Family,

It's been over a year since I've written about my daughter Stacey. Much too long, I know! It's been so long that there are several thousand on this list who do not even know what I'm talking about. I'm sorry about that! It was very interesting for me to go to Africa last year and have people in every town I visited ask me about Stacey. Thanks again for all your prayers!!

If you would like to get caught up on this story, there are many other details on our web site at:
http://www.gdwm.org/Stacey.htm
I have also posted a video which was made the day she was released from prison in January of last year. I believe this 17 minute video could have a significant impact on many lives.

Over the last several years, I've written many times about our struggles with Stacey and wrote several messages using the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. As she walked a path of rebellion and drifted to the point of eating with the pigs I knew that the only role of a parent was to continue to love our daughter and trust God to work in her life. This was painful at times as she lived a very destructive lifestyle and eventually was sentenced to three years in a military prison. But while in prison, Stacey finally surrendered her life into the hands of God. She was paroled in January of last year and came back home - praise God, "for this my {daughter} was dead and is alive again; she was lost and is found" (Luke 15:24).

We often stop here in the story of the prodigal and rejoice with the father at the return of his child, but we must remember that this is not the end of the story. Many parents of prodigals and many prodigals themselves will testify that the real story has just begun. There are many, many challenges yet to be faced - many which will last a lifetime.

Stacey moved into her own apartment shortly after being released from prison and began to make a series of choices which pulled her slowly away from God's path. The drift was slow - with each decision being rationalized as necessary - but it was absolute compromise with the truth. The end result was that on her very last day of parole (last Friday), she was arrested on a drug violation and sent back to military prison where she will potentially serve the remaining 18 months of her sentence.

Frustrated? Yes. Disappointed? Yes. Weary just thinking about what lies ahead? You bet! But I'm also very thankful that God allowed her to be caught. I cannot even imagine what her life would have been if she was allowed to continue on her current path. Another year (or so) in prison is absolutely the best thing for Stacey right now. And another praise report is that Stacey is praising God for this very same thing. I talked to her a few days ago and she absolutely knows God had her arrested so she wouldn't drift too far. She is so thankful to be in prison and to have one more chance to start again.

Compromise with the world will kill! Paul wrote about this to the Galatians and the Corinthians, "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough" (Galatians 5:9, 1 Corinthians 5:6). It just takes a little compromise to change the course of our path. We must not allow this to happen!

This is also a good opportunity to learn about the "long suffering" and patient nature of God's love. I must have written over 200 letters to Stacey when she was in prison through all of 2003. How could she now do this!? But then I think about how often I turned my back on the love of God; how often He called and wrote to me. I'm so very thankful He didn't give up on me - and so how can I give up on my daughter? God is not finished with her yet!

I have no doubt that you will be hearing much more from Stacey in the future. She knows exactly what she needs to do and is also beginning to see the urgency of getting this message out to others. You cannot win this battle on your own. She even said this in the video she made last year. But without a constant reminder, we forget. Please continue to pray - but also continue to rejoice. God is in control and I believe this WILL end in victory.

Your Brother,
Steve T.

Dear Steve, Stacey and family,

May God keep you all tight within his arms, as you all go through the next 18 mths.

Our first reaction is to be dissappointed and upset, but we have all tried to walk our life path on our own, regardless of what we have already been through and know. Just taking our eyes off Christ for a second could be detrimental to us and those around us. So we must not judge but just love her and support her.

We do not understand what God has in store for Stacey, but it only has to be good, and he needs her back in prison for a reason, she has work to do there and also needs be away from distractions etc so that she can get closer to him and get to know his plan for her.

Praise God for his unconditional love and that he is all powerful. I pray for you and your family and especially for Stacey, for God's grace, mercy, peace and guidance during this time.

God Bless
Venessa
Durban, South Africa

Dear Steve and Stacey,

This is a message I got passed onto me from a friend today. I thought this was very appropriate for Stacey as encouragement, could you please pass this onto to her.

Malachi 3:3 - "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what
this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the
women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back
to the group at their next Bible study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to
watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for
her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining
silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the
fire
and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed
to
hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were
hottest
as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she
thought again about the verse that says:

"He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in
front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man
answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver,
but
he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the
fire.
If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be
destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith,
"How
do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image
in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has
His
eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Pass this on because this very moment, someone might need to know that
God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through,
they'll be a better person in the end.


For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
"In prayer; expect setbacks, but refuse retreat." Richard Eastman
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

This is so powerful, to know that God is sitting in front of the fire, and he is refining us, watching us at every moment, and seeing our struggles, and hearing our cries, he continue to watch over us until he sees HIS IMAGE IN US.

Steve, I hope you, your family and Stacey take comfort in knowing that God has her in his hands, sitting in front of the fire with her. There is no better place to be, even in the heat of the fire, God is with her (us).

Be encouraged, very encouraged.

God Bless
Venessa
Durban, South Africa

Dear Steve and family, I am so very sorry to hear that you and your child are having to go through this yet again. I know my heart breaks for my children when they experience trials and heartache and "imprisonments" of various kinds. Please know you will be in my thoughts and prayers. And, that I am believing with you for the complete and total deliverance and a blessed future full of hope for Stacey. Much love, Terri

Here's a question I received today via email:

Steve, where did you go wrong if you did at all go wrong and what would you say to me as a young parent wanting the best for my 2 year old son.

My Answer: The biggest mistake I made was in not preparing Stacey's heart for the Lord at a young age and in not showing her a consistent Godly example. I did not begin to follow the Lord until she was about 11 years old. This is a difficult age to begin to change. My advice is to begin right now to make Christ the absolute center of your life - without compromise - and instill this principle in your son through EVERYTHING you do. Do not underestimate the power of the world to pull our children down into the pit.

Steve,

Stacey has remained in my prayers. I know there cannot help be disappointment when you have given so much. And so I pray Abba will be to you everything you need. I pray Stacey will draw close to the Father and again come through this with a renewed strength and faith. May she accept wisdom that comes from the Father and hold it close to her heart. May she know how much He loves her and is willing to come to be a help to her.

God bless you for being the earthly Father she needs today and in the future.

Chelki

Dear Steve,
Thanks so much for the update. I will continue to pray for your family. God is still on the throne...He fights our battles..It's His and we rest in Him Amen. Thanks so much for sticking so close to the Father and remaining so faithful to His heart..much appreciation and prayers coveted for me and my family. Jan (now in South Korea)