I know you are disappointed, but my new hobby is NOT ribbon twirling or interpretive dance.  As a matter of fact, I haven't actually found my new hobby yet.  But I HAVE determined that I need one.


Some people from my church get together once a week and we discuss issues we have surrounding food and exercise.  During this week's meeting we were discussing the idea of emotional eating and how we use food as a reward at the end of the day or as a tool to help us relax.  During this conversation, it hit me that my pattern throughout my life has been the same - just with different means of execution.

In my earlier years, I would go out at night and smoke marijuana or drink in order to wind down.  Once I stopped that, I continued smoking cigarettes - the majority of which were consumed at night.  I quit smoking and have since packed on quite a few extra pounds because now, as I've discussed here in the past, when I sit down to chill out at night, food is my go to thing to do.  Sometimes I eat when I'm not even hungry - I do it just because I feel like I need to reward myself with something that I find enjoyable and relaxing.

There used to be a time when I would find sitting down to read a good fiction book a reward.  I would look forward to it and hurry to finish things just so I could get back to it.  Now - I just fall asleep. So I need something that engages my mind and my hands.  I've had crocheting suggested to me, and I'm not ruling it out, but I'm not sure I'm the crocheting type.

I'm on the prowl.  I'm going to try my hand at a few things and see how it goes.

Anyone have any good how to books about becoming a mime?

It's almost 2 in the morning.  And as I am sitting here trying to study for a women's class that I am in, I keep feeling pressed to stop and pray for a certain man who my husband ministers to in the prison.  I don't know if I can legally use his name so for now I will just call him J.

J is 27 years old.  He was arrested for aggravated robbery when he was 21 years old.  He attempted to rob a store at gunpoint because he was young and foolish and wanted money to buy dumb things that 21 year olds want to buy.  


During the robbery, the store owner ended up grabbing the gun from J, turning it on him and pulling the trigger several times.


I believe that in that moment, God stopped that gun from firing because he had bigger plans for our now brother in Christ.  God knew J would become a spiritual brother to my husband and encourage him as he began his prison ministry.  God knew J, a white man, would defy prison rules and become inseparable with a black man - the two even becoming cellmates - and they would, side-by-side evangelize and minister to inmates in the rec yard and in the blocks.  God knew J would do such a good job in his electrician training that even his instructor would question him about what made him different.  Once guess as to what J told him.  God knew that J would be willing to leave friends, family, women, money, and street cred behind in order to serve Him.  God knew that J would be a powerful witness to His power to transform lives.

I may not have many readers but tonight I just feel like I should use what voice I do have it to solicit prayers on this man's behalf.  As faithful as he is, he still has fear.  As optimistic as he is about his future, he still gets discouraged.  As much as he knows God will protect him, he still has to deal with things in prison that would frighten anyone.  And as much as he knows he has spiritual family waiting for him to get out (hopefully within a year), he still can feel alone.

Lord, tonight I just ask you to protect J.  Put a hedge around him and protect him from people who may want to harm him physically, mentally, or spiritually.  Please fill him with hope for his future and strength for the journey.  Please show him favor and renew his spirit every day.  Put people in his path that will strengthen and encourage him.  Provide him with the wisdom and knowledge that he needs to thrive in Your kingdom.  Give him peace and joy that only you can give. - Amen