chialpha-l: FW: Hey!

["Arturo Morales" <am7@ra.msstate.edu>]

Hello everyone,

Jeff (former MSU chialphan and now an active SIU (Southern Illinois
University) chialphan) sent me the following email message. I asked his
permission to share it and he gladly accepted. I am very excited about the
things that God has prepared for each of us! Be encouraged by Jeff's
testimony.

Later.

Arturo

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeffrey W. Cartwright [mailto:liljoemsu@excite.com] 
Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003 9:51 AM
To: am7@ra.msstate.edu
Subject: Hey!



Arturo,

     I just wanted to see how you and Myra are doing and share some news
with you also.  I hope that you and Myra and Judah continue to be blessed by
the Lord.  

     I have had a major spiritual breakthrough since I have come here.
Jesus has helped me tear down the walls I had built around myself.  I don't
think I really ever told you much about my life before I became a Christian,
and it has taken me a long time to come to the point where I could share any
of this with anyone.  I carried around so much pain with me most of the time
when I was at MSU.  Pain that was caused partly by the loss of a close
friend and partly by the painful relationship that had developed between my
father and I.  Truthfully, until a few days ago, my father and I were barely
on speaking terms.  I felt that I had experienced so much pain that in order
to keep it from happening again, I would never allow myself to feel much of
anything again.  The more time that passed, the stronger that emotional
barrier became, even after I confessed my sins and my belief in Jesus
Christ.  I was saved but I was still carrying the pain around because I just
didn't want to let go.  It was all I had for so many years, and it was what
drove me to accomplish the things that I set for myself.  About two weeks
after I got here to Carbondale, I decided that I just couldn't live like
that anymore.  I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me that these
things could be fixed and I didn't have to go through it anymore.  I
answered the altar call at Chi Alpha that night and got prayed for by the a
guy named Chris Migliore that was speaking and giving his tesitmony that
night.  Jesus broke the barrier that has surrounded me for so long, and gave
me something that night that I haven't felt in a long time..... Love.  Since
then I have been able to call my Dad on the phone and talk to him and tell
him that I love him, something I haven't been able to do for years.  God has
truly led me to this place to heal me and I know there he has a greater
purpose for me here.  I have started a men's discipleship program with the
church here and we meet every saturday morning and keep each other
accountable and walking the straight and narrow path in the light and love
of God.  Yesterday's meeting was especially significant to me.  At yesterday
morning's meeting, I was Baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.
God has put His seal on me and now I know that truly I belong to Him and
that he has something planned for me that maybe I have not even imagined.  I
just want you to know how much I love you and appreciate your prayers for
me.  Without people like you there to encourage your brothers and sisters,
we would still be lost.

Send a message back to me and let me know how everthing is going there.  I
be little Judah has grown a lot since I was there last, and I can't wait to
get the chance to come back and visit.  My spring break is coming up in
about three weeks.  I will be off from March 8-16 and I hope that I can get
down there on the 9th and go to church at First Assembly.  I hope I get to
see you and Myra soon.  God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Jeff


Man was made improvable, not perfect, so Strive for the Highest.
-James C. Floyd
 Captain, 1923 Famous Maroon Band
***************************************
Jeffrey W. Cartwright
GA/Shift Supervisor
Computer Learning Center 2
112 ASA Building
Southern Illinois University


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