Journal of Michelle Smith

I was at Juvenile Court today to support an 11-year-old boy who’d already been incarcerated for one month and serving a one-month house arrest for allegedly injuring another child when he threw a brick (out of self-defense).

I have known this little boy and his three siblings for over six years and, yesterday, his mother showed up at my office door at the Rock Church asking for my help.

The amazing part was that she said, “The Spirit told me to come over here and talk to you Ms. Michelle.” She shared with me what had happened to her youngest son just over a month ago and how she had not been eating for the past week. She said, “I didn’t realize that while I wasn’t eating or taking care of myself that I was fasting, and that’s when the Spirit began to speak to me.”

Praise God that she listened to the Spirit. Take a look at what the Spirit led her to do:

1) She accepted a gift from her son’s boss (yes, this little boy works) to retain a private attorney because she was not pleased with the public defender. Her new attorney received a continuance to prepare a proper defense.

2) She came to see me and I informed her that I was an attorney (she never knew that) and that I was quite familiar and confident that the lawyer she planned to hire would be the best person to represent her son because of his extensive criminal law background.

3) She received at least two character reference letters (one of those from me, of course).

4) She had her son’s boss, myself, his Principal and Assistant Principal, one teacher’s aide, one substitute teacher, a former teacher, and a representative from Big Brothers, Big Sisters all present and ready to testify as to his character.

People were praying at home and praying in the Juvenile Court building. We had church up in that place! At least one little boy knows that those of us who claim to love him back our claims with action.

Satan tried to claim one of our children today, but Satan went home empty-handed. Not this child! Not today! God is alive.

Yesterday the Holy Spirit sent me a message to slow down. It came in the form of nearly hitting a pedestrian with my car as I backed up to pull into a parking space that I had driven past. More amazing than the fact that she wasn’t injured and I wasn’t traumatized for life was her response of “That’s okay, I shouldn’t have walked behind the car.” I’m not sure she even took the time because she was rushing to get somewhere too to realize what had almost happened to her. Then she just vanished. But the Holy Spirit said, “Slow down.”

As I entered Prayer at Midday yesterday, I saw a friend from class that I don’t see as much anymore because we don’t have classes together this semester. Yet, I had seen her as we passed by two Sundays ago at College Church for mass. Yesterday I stopped her as she was leaving school to tell her that I don’t like just bumping into her. So she told me to call her. That was the Holy Spirit telling me, “Slow down.”

As I woke up this morning I realized that I had not fulfilled a promise to a friend to call someone for a radio show. My friend Richard Lane will be on the radio (on Wednesday mornings with Zip) and he asked me to contact someone for his live call-in show, Evangelizing St. Louis. I got so busy with other things that I was doing that I forgot until this morning. When I got in contact with the person for Richard this morning. It was Anthony Bonner (former Vashon, SLU and NBA basketball player). Well, it turns out that Mr. Bonne had some information that he wanted to share with me. More amazing, though, is that when I shared this information with Richard, it turned out to be someone that Richard needed to talk to. I hear you Lord, “Slow down and listen to ‘Evangelizing St. Louis’ on AM Radio 1080 or 1460 on Wednesday mornings from 7-8am.” Okay, so maybe the Spirit didn’t say that last part (wink).

My best friend called me last weekend with chest pains, but didn’t go to the doctor. I’m still not sure she’s even called her doctor. Maybe it was indigestion (or maybe not). I’ve been telling her to slow down for months now, but she won’t–she’s on a mission. I pray that she hears the message soon, though.

Are you moving too fast? Not taking care of yourself like you should? Taking loved ones for granted? Whatever you are doing, continue to pray to stay open to hearing the Spirit speaking to you.

If there’s too much noise and other stuff in your life, you might not hear the Spirit. I pray that you can turn the background noise down enough to hear the Spirit tell you to slow down.

God bless.