Good morning!
Mike and I have had a hectic week... much more so than usual. When we headed to the prison last night we both felt like we didn't have much to offer. We hadn't spent as much time planning or organizing our thoughts. Mike knew he wanted to talk about "blessings" because they have been abundant for us, especially this week. But we both felt pretty scattered.
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We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. 2 Corinthians 13:9
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
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The boys had already gone inside when we arrived. When we entered the unit, the only person in the room was Briscoe, the guard. No boys. We had a nice conversation with Briscoe and had a few minutes to handle some tasks with him. He said he wasn't sure if we were coming, so he'd sent the boys on to shower. Then they started to trickle in.
There was a new participant - Caz. We shook hands and welcomed him. We ended up with a group of 11.
I took a pad of paper last night and a zip-loc bag. I let them know that if they had private prayer requests, they could write them down and fold up the paper and leave it in the zip-loc bag. Immediately, Caz asked for the pad of paper. That pad wandered around the room all evening.
Michael shared about his last couple of weeks. He'd been in a physical altercation and wanted to talk about it. He was forthcoming. He was honest. We asked what he could have done differently. We talked about forgiveness. It was a good conversation.
Then Mike shared about blessings. Before he could even finish, Michael raised his hand and talked about losing his grandma in 2008. He said he has a prison grandma who comes to visit him regularly. (AMAZING program, by the way!!!) His prison grandma makes sure he's reading his Bible, praying to God and talking to her about what he's learning. Then with courage and sincerity, he asked, "How can I be sure that I'm a Christian?"
Mike and I just looked at each other and the joy came raining down. From that moment on, we had talked about Jesus, salvation, forgiveness, grace, mercy, the thief on the cross and John 3:16. Marquis asked questions. Stephen asked questions. You could have heard a pin drop in that room.
We joined hands in prayer to close. I know in my heart that one of those boys talked to God last night and proclaimed his faith in Jesus. My skin was tingling for the last 45 minutes we were there.
God so clearly revealed His plan for the evening and taught Mike and I more than a thing or two. We just sat back and watched... and praised His name every moment.
Please lift up these specific prayer requests from the boys:
I would like for you to pray for my mom because she is struggling to get her car fixed and when she finally got the money someone stole it and she is so discouraged. Thank you, with love.
Sterling (19 years old)
Please pray for my appeal which is coming soon, that the DA see the truth and the judge that 21 years to life is too much time.
Stephen (16 years old)
I would like you to pray for my family and for myself to make it out there and become someone in life and to leave my gang behind in the past. Thank you and God bless you. Always,
Caz (20 years old - will be released 9/13)
To allow my case to be recalled and let me be out and with my family again.
Wissam (17 years old)
I want to ask for strength, wisdom, knowledge, and my family and loved ones and pray for all the grandparents. God bless,
Michael (20 years old)
I want you to pray for my family, for the boys and the wards in DJJ facility and the men and women in prisons.
Kemone (17 years old)
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