A while back Shannon taught me how to practice for the rapture.  Somebody yells “RAPTURE PRACTICE!”  and everybody is supposed to jump up towards the ski like we’re being sucked to heaven.  We do it sometimes just to make ourselves laugh. 

Well last week we had a preacher come in from the outside to give our sermon.  He started out by saying “We are living in the times that Jesus says to watch for…  Who’s excited?  Who’s ready to go when the trumpet sounds?”  And I looked across the room for Shannon and mouthes “rapture practice?”  And we both jumped straight out of our chairs with our arms stretched torward the sky and yelled “RAPTURE PRACTICE!”  Then we sat down like nothing happened.

People laughed.  Some looked at us like we were crazy.  But it was so fun!  And we got excited!  Cause that will be the day when we are taken to the sky for real! 

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive will be caught up together in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore, encourage each other with these words.”  I Thess. 4:16-8

Of course – it is snowing today.  Why does that not surprise me?  Two years ago it snowed in Baton Rouge when I had an important court date and I had to rescedule.  I had made a deal with God then.  I said that I was gonna read through the Bible twice and then I wanted to go home.  And I really though I was ready too. 

But on the day of court, I wasn’t finished with the second read through and it was snowing.  I was only in Job.  The verses that I read that day said:

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding.  He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’  So that all men He has made may know His work; He stops every man from his labor.”  Job 37:5-7

I was like “Woah God- good one!  Thanks for the snow so I can finish my reading and fulfill my part of the deal.”

Well, needless to say, the deal I made with God wasn’t part of His plan and I didn’t go  home.  And a good thing too cause I wasn’t ready.  I still had lots to learn and lots to go through.  And I can still say the same thing today.

So here I am again – 2 years later – waiting for the next chapter to begin in the journey through prison.  And once again I am reminded of these verses.

I could leave any day for the drug program.  Each day I hope is one that they call my name to pack out.  But God says to “Be still and know that He is God.”

He knows I am still here.  And He  hasn’t forgotten me.  There is a reason I haven’t left yet.  He is still making the way for me.  And I am confident that I am where I am supposed to  be.

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him” – Psalms 37:7

This is the only thing left hanging in my locker and I have been reading it every day for the last 30 days.  I found out I was leaving and time seemed to slow down.  I have been getting everything ready for my big move.  I sent stuff home – cleaned out my locker and people have already called dibs on my clothes.  I’m all packed – just waiting for them to call my name.

It’s hard knowing I could leave any day but not knowing exactly when.  I have to hug my friends goodbye each morning in case I’m gone by the time they get off work.

I am so ready.  I’ts all downhill from here.  I’ll be home in a year!  Praise God!  How 6 1/2 years turned into 3 1/2 – I’m not sure!  But I definetly give all the glory to God!

I will write more soon.  I’ll have lots to talk about when I get to where I’m going.

There is so much going on right now! We are practicing for our Christmas program and the skit is going to be awesome! And we are also doing a drama to a Lifehouse song called “Everything”.

I encourage everyone to check out this dramaon youtube. Search “Lifehouse Everything.” It will touch your heart. It brings tears to my eyes everytime we run through it.

It hits home for me, it is about a girl who is in love with Jesus- until things of the world come between her love for him. A boyfriend, money, alcohol, and drugs. And she struggles to get back to Jesus, but can’t. And in the end, he saves her. It is a 5 minute video- please check it out. You will be blessed by it.

We are going to perform it on New Years Eve. The perfect way to kick off the New Year!!

I didn’t ask to be a leader. I’m not good at it. I don’t like speakingup. I don’t like taking charge. And I sure don’t like having to make executive decisions. But, unfortunatlly I signed up for all of this when I agreed to direct the choir.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love almost everything about the choir. I love to sing. I love to teach new songs. And I love helping these girls learn how to harmonize. I love it when the church gets on fire for the Lord when were singing cuause it means the spirit is using our voices to bless god and bless others. You know God is blessed when the holy ghost fills the whole room!

There is so much I love about choir. But then there are times when drama breaks out- there is tension evident between two choir members- people quit coming to practice- and it’s up to me to straighten it out.

I keep the choir covered in prayer- but satan always tries to find a way to sneak in and mess things up. And he has been trying to use a choir member for a few months now. And I have been trying to overlook the attitude, the sarcastic remarks, and the tantrums. I was “feeling” from the devil- I wasn’t “resisting” him.

And last week when she threw one of her tantrums and got up and left right after the church service started, because she didn’t get to sing her solo the wy she wanted, I had to speak up. I had to make my firstexecutive decision.

I told her I didn’t want her doing anymore solos as part of the choir, I wasn’t going to put her in front of the church anymore. I expectmy choir members to set good examples in and out of the church. I expect the to  “live lives worthy of the calling they have recieved” (Eph 4:1)

I told her it was up to her whether she stayed in the choir, but I wasn’t giving her anymore solos.

I put a lot of prayer into this “talk”. I’m just not good at confrontation. I’m not good when it comes to words coming out of my mouth. They never come out as intended.

But it didn’t really matter wht I said, because the next day she was telling everyone she got kicked out of the church.

And that is prison for you. You can always expect your words to be twisted and for rumors to get started. I am confident that I did the right thing. And God knows what I did and what was truely said. But it is still so frustrating when something like this happens.

I just have to always remember what the word says: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4: 7-8)

I received this post from Randi about a week ago. I will conclude with an update (talked with Randi on the phone yesterday). Thanks – Shauna

2/12/2009

On Tuesday, the whole women’s dorm was transferred to another facility so that they can repaint our dorm. We are all settled in now over at Livingston Parish. I was excited about our little “road trip” at first – and there are a lot of good things about this place. ie. We get to go outside every day. All day long – we can come in and out as we please. And the place is really clean because it is a brand new facility.

But for some reason, I am getting depressed here. I don’t know if it is because I am really realizing I am in jail or what? For the past 6 months, I have been at WBRP – I have gotten comfortable there. I have never been to another jail before so I guess I didn’t really feel like I was in jail.

For the past 2 days, I have been able to sleep the whole day away. But today, I am tossing and turning in my bed. So, I got up – went outside with my coffee and started praying.

Of course, tears filled up my eyes – as they are right now.

I said – “God, get me out of this – why am I having such a hard time here?”

I thought to go get my Bible. I grabbed The Message and flipped open to Psalm 34: 15-19

“God keeps an eye on His friends. His hears pick up every moan and groan. God won’t put up with rebels; he’ll cut them off from the pack. Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you if your heart is broken. You’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath. Disciples so often get into trouble; still. God is there every time. v.22 – God pays for each slaves freedom; no one who runs to Him loses out.”

So, God answered my prayer quickly. He told me that He is watching. He is listening. And He is ready to help.

- Randi Spearman
February 12, 2009

Update from Shauna:

I talked with Randi on Saturday and Sunday. She is back at WBRP – and I will go ahead and say she is in a bit of a rut. Shocking, I know. It is easy to get discouraged when you have all of the luxuries of freedom and have a group of believers that are holding you up – I know it has to be 100 times easier for Randi to get discouraged. I committed to Randi to start praying for someone to come in that will help lift her up. She is doing a lot of that with the other inmates, and I think she is at a place where she needs some encouragement.

She is so tired of jail and ready to come home. We talked some yesterday about God plans for us. It is rarely what we want for ourselves. And if He needs her there longer – she will be there longer. We can just pray for patience, and listen for God’s direction.

Randi still has not been given a court date. She is just waiting. Gosh, I hate waiting. Don’t we all. I can hardly bear to sit in traffic – and she is waiting on a system, that she has no control over, to decide her freedom. My heart breaks for my little sister today. I want her home. But if she can’t be home, I want her to feel God’s presence and allow the joy of the Lord to be her strength.

John 16: 24 reveals Jesus speaking to his disciples:

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

Thanks for your continued prayers and love.

Shauna

“See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands…March around the city once with all your armed men. Do this for 6 days…On the 7th day, march around the city 7 times…have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.”
Joshua 6:2-5
We are doing our own Jericho walk in the dorm. Everyone who wanted to participate wrote down their prayer requests and put them in a box.

For 6 days, we will march around the box one time – then we join hands and close with a prayer. On the 7th day, we will march 7 times, give a loud shout, then we are going to destroy the box and God is going to break down whatever “walls” we placed in the box.

He said, “ask and you shall receive.”

So, we are asking.

He said, “seek and you shall find.”

So, we are seeking.

He said, “knock and the door will be opened.”

So, we are knocking.

I know that God is hearing our prayers! And He is preparing a way from them to be answered.

I will let you all know as soon as prayers are being answered.

I am so thankful for the ladies in this dorm! I could not imagine being in a place like this with out being surrounded by other Christians! God definitely knew what he was doing when He put me in this prison!

Randi Spearman
1-19-2009

I am very fortunate because I do not have chronic pain. (Thank You, Lord!) But, as a massage therapist, I do have the opportunity to work with some of the ladies who do suffer on a daily basis.
The medical system at this place is a joke. They usually tell us that we are eating too much salt when someone is in pain. They do not give out pain medication unless you have a court ordered prescription. We can buy Tylenol & Advil on commissary.

But I do work on some of the ladies. My mom sent me a trigger point therapy book. So, depending on what guards are working – I can temporarily relieve some of the pain and stress.

I am glad that I have the medical knowledge of the body because it comes in hand. They say I have healing hands. And, although I will admit that I have good hands & have always been a good therapist – since I have been here I have started a new technique.

I do what I do in the name of Jesus. And I let Him use my hands to do the healing.

Because Jesus said: “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name, they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people and they will get well.” Mark 16:17

Note: Randi has tried to get input from other inmates dealing with chronic pain and has not been able to do so. If you are or know someone who has dealt with this, we would love to hear from you.

God came back! Hallelujah! It just makes me so excited, gives me so much joy when He makes His presence known. The dorm has been on edge…but now there is peace.

God has a way of making everything fall into place for His glory! Tonight we started a new Bible Study/Prayer group. I have been praying that He will help me keep it going – because most of the women that used to do it have gone home.

I read my Bible every day…sometimes all day…but I have had it on my heart to read at the table instead of in my bed. And, sure enough, tonight God brought a new group together!

We read from The Message & He spoke directly to us about all of the chaos that has been going on in the dorm.

I just love the Lord! I love Him so much that I sometimes am at a loss for words! It makes me so excited when I talk to these ladies about what He’s doing and my excitement is contagious.

It’s so powerful when the Holy Spirit gets me going – cause the ladies really benefit from my joy!

They want to experience it – & I want for them to too – and the only advice I can tell them is to give it all to God! Know that God has brought us together for His purpose – for His plans – for His glory! And when you get your heart set fully on Him – this joy just fills your whole body – your whole spirit!

It’s so great! Praise God!

God is Good. God is Here. And He wants us to encourage each other and help each others faith grow – and to know Him better.

He has made His entrance…and He’s got a lot of work to do in this dorm. I am so excited to know that He has chosen me to help Him get the work done!

I’m all yours, God.

Randi Spearman, January 2009