21-Day Fast: Breakthrough Stories
by gingerhohm on May 17th, 2010
filed under Journal
My friend Joe started attending our church about six months ago. Joe doesn’t really “fit-in” as the average church attender. Joe is different. You see, Joe has spent more years inside prison than he has outside. Joe doesn’t talk like a Christian either. He hasn’t learned the language. He talks about God like he is the head of his gang. Don’t misunderstand! Joe is in love with Jesus, but Joe is different.
Joe has tattoos – a lot of tattoos. In fact, it’s hard to find a place where Joe doesn’t have a tattoo. Did you know Joe has tattoos on his face? They are tear drops – four of them.
In case you are wondering, I like Joe. In fact, he is one of my favorite people. I light up whenever I see him enter the church. We hang out at breakfast before the service and swap stories of our week.
Joe also attends our Life Group. I watch for him and his sister to walk up the sidewalk to our home. He sees God differently. I guess that is what I love the most about old Joe. He brings a newness to our group. He reminds me of what is was like when I first met Jesus.
Yeah, I guess it is kind of obvious. I really like Joe.
Joe had a breakthrough just about a week before this writing. He was walking behind a women. She reached in her pocket for something and when she pulled out her hand, a large sum of green, hard, cash dropped to the ground. Joe quickly scanned around to see who had noticed the money. No one was around. Joe instinctively picked up the cash and started to stuff his pockets. Lord knows he needed the extra help. As he was putting the money in his pocket, the Lord tapped him on the shoulder. Joe knew he was stealing. He knew he was wrong. He knew he wanted something better.
“Ma’am!” Joe said. “I think you dropped something.” The women insisted she had not. Now wouldn’t it have been enough to say he had tried? Nope. Joe knew she was unaware of the money she had lost.
Ma’am, I think you did drop something. Is this yours?” The women recognized the cash Joe held in the air was hers.
Now what do you suppose would make an ex-convict give up a large sum of money when no one on the planet was aware of his behavior? I’ll tell you exactly what it was. Are you listening? It was freedom. You see, there has been more than bars that held Joe captive. There were chains and strongholds within Joe that held him far longer than the California State Prison system. He has met truth and that same truth has set my friend free.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—
his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2