How to Make December the Best Ever

Gene and I had a highly unusual entry into the holiday season. We were invited to go to Tallahassee, Florida for meetings at the capitol with senators and state representatives to advocate for prison reform.

We accepted the invitation to accompany the founder of Florida Cares, a remarkable organization that advocates for inmates and their families. 

Our minds went back to the verse God gave to us when we founded www.SpeakUpforHope.org: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9 

We walked the halls of the capitol for two days and spoke to many state leaders who can initiate positive change in the prison system.

Here’s what we learned that we hope will be of help you.

1.  Ask God to put the mission, issue, or cause on your heart that He wants you to undertake.

Because our son, Jason, has been incarcerated for over 26 years, we are passionate about advocating on behalf of prison reform. When we work together on positive change, progress is made.

2. Immerse your project in prayer and invite others to be part of your prayer team.

We placed announcements on my personal Facebook page and on my author page and before we met with senators and state representatives, over 1,000 friends let us know they were praying for open doors and favor as we met with leaders at the capitol.

3.  Expect results.

God answers prayer–sometimes in the way we’re expecting, and at other times in totally unexpected ways that may be a mystery to us. The founder of Florida Cares said, “I’ve been experiencing wall after wall, one closed door after another.”  On our final day at the capitol, we encountered a gigantic open door in a senate office. It was extraordinary favor from an unanticipated source.

4. Create space for surprising encounters.

We didn’t overschedule our time in Tallahassee. Instead of making a prearranged schedule of appointments, we had time to meet with recently released inmates, including Leo Schofield, a man who was recently released after spending 36 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Leo and Jason were incarcerated at the same prison for several years, and we were able to celebrate together what God has done.

5.  Plan to support the mission, organization, issue, or cause God has placed on your heart.

When we visit our son at the prison, we marvel at his positive attitude, in addition to his interest in teaching, mentoring, and organizing classes and programs that help inmates to make progress with their biblical studies and their educational courses. I asked him how he maintains an optimistic, joyful outlook.  Without hesitation he said, “It’s because I know people are praying for me and they are supporting what we are doing together through the ministry of Speak Up for Hope.org.”

6. Know your “why.”

When Gene and I invest our time and treasures in a mission we’re committed to, we realize we can be part of something far beyond ourselves. Time is limited–and we’re on the home stretch. Ask yourself what you care about so much that you’re willing to give your time, your resources, your influence, and your targeted prayer to, knowing it will matter for eternity.

Early in our journey with Jason through his arrest, trial, conviction, and sentencing, we were encouraged by Chuck Colson.  As the founder of Prison Fellowship, he understood the needs of inmates deeply: “I’ve learned that true transformation happens when we treat prisoners with dignity and give them real opportunities to change.” His life demonstrated that redemption is possible when we combine accountability with genuine restoration.

If you’d like to encourage Jason during the Christmas season, you can help in these ways:

• Send a Christmas card or note to him at:

• Send him a book from an on-line bookstore.  (Books cannot be sent from home addresses.) If he gets duplicates, he shares them with many men who are hungry for new reading material.  A book sent to Jason is often read by more than a dozen inmates. (No personal notes can be included with the book, and it must be shipped via USPS.) Books go to this address:

• Give to Jason’s ministry on the inside through tax-deductible contributions to: https://speakupforhope.org/donate/

Checks can be sent to:

Final Challenge

This December, ask God what cause He’s placing on your heart, then step out in prayer and obedience—even if the path seems unusual or the timing inconvenient. When you create space for divine appointments and expect His favor, you’ll witness Him open doors you never could have imagined and use your story for purposes far greater than you dreamed possible.

Question:  I’d love to hear from you. Where do you love to do year-end giving? What drew you to that cause or organization, and why has it captured your heart?”

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