Do Not Crush The Spirit's Works

“I learned it from a friend,” a sincere answer emanated from those dry, cracking lips of this young man in front of me. His eyes surrounded with dark circles. His weight, seemed so much lighter for his age. He was able to meet my sympathetic gaze with those tired, somber eye contact.

“He’s back!!! What’s wrong with him now?,” exclaimed the medication nurses who recognized him from his previous incarceration, which was not long ago. I walked into the jail’s pharmacy to check if there was any medication already given to this young patient. He requested to be seen, complaining of nausea and vomiting and inability to sleep.

A chorus of opinions continued to flood the tiny room, filled with many different kinds of medications in different forms.

“Remember him, nurse Rcubes? He was just released. He looks like a walking zombie now,” added one medication nurse.

“He learned his drug use from his own mom. She’s also an addict,” joined another one.

“He told me though that he learned it initially from a friend, not his mom,” I uttered.

“No! He’s lying! It was from his mom,” insisted that particular commenter.

“I don’t know. But I know in my heart that he told me the truth. That’s not important anyway. I just hope that he’ll still get out of this nasty trap so he can live,” I answered.

Sadly, I discovered that there was no other medications to be given to him as everything was already initiated the day he entered the jail.

“Thank you Ma’am for checking,” he uttered in a soft, whisper-like voice.

“Sir, as someone who believes in you, I just want you to know that there are resources outside, when you get released, to help you get out of this bad habit. You are still young. Only 18. It doesn’t matter even if you’re using heroin for 2 years now. There is a way out. But the change to become a better person has to come from you. I believed what you told me, that you learned it from a friend. And even if there are influences around you, you don’t have to go with that flow. If you don’t stop, you will end your life because of this…”

Waiting for a nasty response and attitude, he replied, “Thank you, Ma’am. I will try. You’re right. I want to live some more…,” as his sad gaze pierced my own vision and felt some gratitude with his expression. He got up and went back to his unit.

As I stood still and in my mind prayed, “Lord, You are the One Who can make that change possible in this young man who has so many potential. Despite that no one believes in him anymore, You do. I do…Because You made the changes in my stubborn heart long time ago, too…”
 
The dictionary describes the word “stifle” with the following:

~ to quell, crush, or end by force: to stifle a revolt; to stifle free expression.

~ to suppress, curb, or withhold: to stifle a yawn

~ to kill by impeding respiration; smother.

Paul had reminded us in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 not to stifle the Holy Spirit. He went on to verse 20 by adding not to scoff at prophecies. We should not ignore or toss aside the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. V.21 - but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

In 1 Corinthians 14:39, he talked about “speaking in tongues”. Sometimes, spiritual gifts become controversial and may cause a division in the church. Instead of trying to solve a problem, some Christians prefer to smother the gifts. But it impoverishes the church. We should not stifle the Holy Spirit’s work in anyone’s life but encourage the full expression of these gifts to benefit the whole body of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Nobody from my co-workers wanted to believe that inmate. But what if he’s telling the truth? He may have a long history of being a drug addict, a menace to this society…but we don’t have to be famous, rich, nor good looking to be used by God. He uses common, ordinary people from all walks of life to make His glory known. Look at some of the people God used in the Bible:

~ Sarah was barren but gave birth to Isaac in her old age
~ Moses was an ordinary guy God used to deliver the people from the crushing hand of the Pharaoh
~ Joshua who had faith in God was used by the Lord and who led God’s people to defeat Jericho
~ Rahab was a common prostitute, but she believed God and saved Joshua’s spies.
~ Paul, who was an angry man, a strict Jew, who persecuted Christians. He was a Pharisee who approved the stoning of Stephen. Yet, he was seen by God as a man for a special job. He met Jesus through a vision and his conversion started from there [Acts 9:1-19]. His journeys, sufferings, works are all in “Acts of the Apostles” and he also wrote letters to churches at Rome, Corinth, and others.

I can go on and on but the point is God used ordinary people whose weaknesses He turned into strength. If Christ, himself was ordinary being a carpenter’s son, why would we think or expect that God would just use special people for His purposes?

When it seems that things are impossible, don’t forget that God’s glory shines through the weakest vessels….

“But God told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." - 1Samuel 16:7 [The Message]

26 comments:

  1. ((Rosel))
    Dear heart - you are so amazing! You truly look through the eyes of God at people! We ALL need to do this when people cross our paths! We ALL need to see the struggling, scared LOST person inside that God puts before us! If WE don't stand up for them who will? Sometimes all anyone needs to make a change is for someone to believe in them!

    I adored Mother Theresa - and will always remember her words she said when face to face with people who were horribly disfigured with leprosy. When asked how she could bear to look at these poor people and take them in her arms without showing or feeling disgust, she replied that when she looked into the eyes of these forgotten people, she saw Jesus eyes looking back at her! EVERY person here on this Earth is a beloved child of God and worthy of our time, attention and love!

    I am so glad that this young man was able to receive compassion and belief from you dear sister - THIS ATTITUDE is how we will make a change in people! He probably NEVER had anyone who has believed in him - ESPECIALLY if his mother WAS an addict. You gave him a ray of hope for his future
    Bless you,
    Kymber

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  2. It only takes one person to make a difference in someone else's life. Thank you for making a difference in many lives. You will never know the impact you have on so many in the prison system as well as outside those doors.

    GOD is not picky about who HE chooses to rescue. "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distress." Psalm 107:13

    Blessings, hugs, love, and prayers, andrea

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  3. "God’s glory shines through the weakest vessels…."
    Oh That is so true!! What a difference we can make in other people's lives if we will only depend on His ability in us and not try to go out it on our own. Like you did in this story here. :)

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  4. This post brought tears to my eyes. I'm grateful for how God used you in this inmate's life.

    Thanks for the encouragement to not quench the spirit. May I too look at people and see Jesus as Mother Theresa did.

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  5. Rosel,

    What an amazing and oh so encouraging post! Thankyou for sharing the weak vessels who were used of the Lord even in their sin they were changed and helped change the course of history!

    I am just so blessed by your heart and just as my heading says "may we spur one another on towards love and good deeds" that you are a clear example of what that means! You SPUR me on every single day and every time I read your stories or your comments ~ you just fill me with love and encouragement.....THANKYOU ROSEL! I LOVE YOU

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  6. "And lead us not into temptation; but, deliver us from evil".

    As I read these lines above:
    "“He learned his drug use from his own mom. She’s also an addict,” joined another one.

    “He told me though that he learned it initially from a friend, not his mom,” I uttered.

    “No! He’s lying! It was from his mom,” insisted that particular commenter.

    I pondered that selection and concluded a mom can be a friend, and with either title, lead him into temptation, and evil.

    Long ago, I took care of my children, and despite a fair split of property, more and more items disappeared from the house and my girls lived in fear. Someone was breaking in.

    I had two new steel doors installed with new locks. (I told the installer of fear in my older daughter, and to his credit, he went to her after his work was done, and said "NO ONE can get through these doors. It would be easier to cut a hole through the wall to get in here now").
    I was grateful as she visibly relaxed.

    Stuff disappeared anew.

    One day, my daughter came to me and said:
    "Dad, I know who is doing this and how".
    "Tell me" I urged.
    "It's mom. She has your garage door opener on her car visor, and things missing here are down there at moms. She must come in the garage when we're not home".

    On the next custody exchange, I went to mom's car window and looked up and said:
    "Hand over the garage door opener. It does not open YOUR garage"(she had no garage). This eliminated any room for denial or hiding the opener, if I requested she bring it next time.
    She handed it over. Mom, can be friend, and enemy, eh?

    Kitchen items needed replaced badly.
    A woman I met through school activities of our children, invited me to a Pampered Chef party --- a weird thing I had never heard before, but agreed to attend.

    I needed everything in the kitchen anew. 28 women and me was a great night of shopping and talking.

    Next day, my friend asked if I liked the woman with long, black hair and I said I talked to all of them, but she was very kind and attractive. So cupid maker set us up on a date.

    You have no money when you are custodial parent, or time. So the woman said "let's eat and talk at my home".

    In the course of discussion, she asked me about drugs, as a woman at Pampered Chef night when we met, was passing pills that looked like compressed hay for horses. Some of the women gratefully took these pills that night.
    I thought they were vitamins, for that is what I was told they were.

    Black haired beauty asked if I took any of them that night.

    "No, I just eat right and skip all pills"

    "Those were drugs, not vitamins. I'm glad you didn't take any, or you would be hooked".

    My mind screamed in disbelief. My friend (cupid) had said zip on the subject, and it was all casually handed out among certain women at the Chef Party.

    "How do you know they were drugs?, I queried.

    "Don't be naive", said Ms. Black Hair to me.
    "If a total stranger came up to you, and offered pills or a joint, or a drug of any kind, you would reject them immediately and know they can kill you. Drugs are always delivered from a friend, someone you know and trust....otherwise, you wouldn't take them".

    Ice water was splashed on my brain at that statement, for I never considered that a friend, could be an enemy....intentionally or otherwise. Yet, it was "friends" at the party giving drugs to other friends.

    YOUR discernment of drugs from mom, or from another person, as stated in the post, made me recall all that, and how we MUST test everything as the Bible states.

    It was a friend of Christ who betrayed him.

    It was a friend of Christ who denied him.

    It is ALL friends of Christ who sin these days still. We are wretched. No wonder the Holy Spirit is grieving.

    [I was in the prayer chapel yesterday, and the name Rosel and medical coworkers in jail was on top, for the list of all who are praying 24/7. It made me smile.]

    Dominos vobiscum.
    The Lord be with you.

    Et cum spiri tu tuo.
    And also with your spirit.

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  7. A great post, Dear ~ You are being used by God to influence lives, that is for sure. You are such a blessing.

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  8. Rosel,

    Blessings and praises to God for what you do everyday. Your presence is too valuable in the work that you do and the souls that you can touch that lie in the darkness of the world. Thank you for shining a light into all things.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  9. Thank you all for all of your encouraging comments. I had tears in my eyes [I am the type that don't cry easily], feeling grateful and overwhelmed everytime all of you come by. Because I never expected to meet wonderful bros. and sisters in Christ through blogging.

    My own work experiences He used. Had I not been sensitive, I wouldn't be a nurse still, just because of a neck injury years ago.

    You are all my friends and thank you for all of your prayers. Keystone, thank you for that 24/7 intercession. I do not deserve anything but the Lord blessed me with great friendships.

    Isn't it sad when a parent or parents who you would think would be the first one to protect their children turn out to be the kids' enemies, too? And I see a lot of them in the jail, men and women who abused their own children. Seeing this young drug addict was no particular as he perhaps, wanted love and attention and found those from using illegal drugs. So glad you had that discernment not to take those pills from that what seemed to be fun party that was not fun but dangerous!

    My hubby and I had instructed our son not to eat anything or accept anything even from friends, not knowing where those things come from. The friends might not be aware in the first place if anything had drugs, given by their own loved ones or friends.

    You all bless me and I pray for the Lord to bless you all the more! May God grant us all especially our children with discernment...To God be the glory!

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  10. You brought me to tears. I have no doubt that God put you in that prisoners path for a very special reason. Thank you for caring about your patients so much, thank you for seeing their potential. God Bless! :)

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  11. You are so beautiful. I know you were a source of life and hope to this young boy. It must be all you can do not to say, "Jesus loves you and He is your way of escape!"

    God bless you for being such a compassionate example of the Word.

    Love!
    Beth

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  12. Rosel, you never cease to amaze me in the incredible stories (testimonies) you share. I always see the heart of GOD within your words and the messages you share. Thank you for that!

    Love you dear sister in Christ and thank you for being a very strong encourager on and off line!!

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  13. You are beautiful Sonshine to a dark world, love you sis.

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  14. Dear one, what God is doing in your life is so very exciting! I have been touched my this post. Blessings and much hugs.....

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  15. Rosel, First let me say I have missed you:) Thank You for another great post. You are such a blessing. Whoever taught him about drugs was wrong. It mattered NOW that you listened and cared. I pray he will stop using drugs and turn to GOD. Your encouragement may have been what he needed. Love you lots... Cheers hee-hee (I could not resist). Blessings, Audrey

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  16. Rosel, God has blessed you with an incredible gift for building up others. I am amazed at the work God is doing through you. Prayed for this man as I was reading too.

    Much love!

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  17. oh Rosel......my heart broke reading about this Lost boy.

    I have an almost 18 year old....I cannot imagine the brokenness and hopelessness this boy (yes, he is really still a boy.....seems to me he never got a childhood based on his story) is feeling.

    No matter what addiction/crime he is involved in, He is still someone's son.....and even if his earthly mother/father has tossed him aside......His Heavenly Father will never forsake him. Thank you for being a vessel of compassion for our Father....you are such a source of Light.

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  18. I believe that drug addiction is a physical & a spiritual bondage . Sometimes it takes a miracle from God to free a person . But we should not despair for God is in the miracle business. It is so terrible how this epidemic of drug use & then addiction is affecting the youth of our country .God has laid it on my heart to pray against whatever demon spirits are behind this. Every Christian if so led can do this also.
    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, EPH 6:12.
    Love in Christ,
    Myrna

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  19. Amen sister Myrna! What difference is addiction to food just like it is with drugs or other things? The battle is real and we must be knowledgeable in this area. Otherwise, we, Christians, are easily taken down, too if not aware...Blessings to all of you.

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  20. Oh Rosel.......what a wonderful, wonderful post!! My heart is so moved by the Holy Spirit to have greater compassion, mercy and grace towards broken humanity.......my heart weeps! They need Jesus and to see Him through us, His children, His Church!! There but by the Grace of God go I!! It was his compassion, mercy and grace that rescued me and His grip of grace that holds me close to His Heart. How can I do anything less than offer the same to everyone I meet!! Jesus!!

    You always bless and encourage my heart!!

    Sweet Blessings!
    Jackie

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  21. I wish I could have been there. What a world-changing opportunity you have to minister to the inmates! They are so blessed to have you there. Jesus is certainly smiling down on you in that cold prison. He comes to set the captives free! Praise God!

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  22. Rosel,
    We all need to pray for our young people.
    They are struggling to live for God in this world. Most are just struggling to live one day at a time.
    Dear God; So many additions; for so many. God heal them; bless them as we lift them up to YOU.
    Amen
    Bren

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  23. What great spices. Thyme and Rosemary... What do you use them for? What types of things do you cook? Thank You for sharing your favs.

    Do you know I have never used wine in cooking hee-hee. Now I have to try it sometime. I wanted to Thank You for being my great friend. You put a smile on my face and make my day. I am glad to be back too. Many Blessings to YOU. Love Audrey

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  24. RCUBES

    My heart breaks for all those who seem to have no chance right from childhood. Family sin is like a curse. How amazing then that you are able to shine light into the lives of such young people. God is with you!

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  25. thank God He uses ordinary people....people like you Recube....Keep staying strong. You're the best. sarah

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  26. You are an amazing woman! I thank God for the day you crossed my path. I love reading your blog. Thank you.

    Lori

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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