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 2/18/98 Good morning.... +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ The world is blessed most by people who do things, and not by those who merely talk about them. +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ Good Morning Precious Brethren!! Hope this finds your Wednesday ok...! Jesus STILL loves you soo very much!! I know that this story is probably familiar to some of you, but I thought it was so good, it deserved an Encore. I literally gasped when I read the end. It makes one realize..."what goes around comes around." Enjoy! See you at da end! <tee hee> Gal 6:9 He was driving home one evening, on a two-lane country road. Work, in this small mid-western community, was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac. But he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed, he'd been unemployed, and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home. It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill. But he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country. He could go down this road blind, and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He'd better get a move on. You know, he almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill that only fear can put in you. He said, "I'm here to help you ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm. By the way, my name is Joe." Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk. She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money.This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, and Joe added "...and think of me". He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor, it didn't ring much. Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe. After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes, when she read what the lady wrote. It said, "You don't owe me a thing, I've been there too. Someone once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here's what you do. Don't let the chain of love end with you." Well, there were tables to clear, sugar
bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made
it through another day. That night when she got home from
work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the
money and what the lady had written. How could she have
known how much she and her husband needed it? With the
baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew
how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next
to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and
low, "Everything's gonna be alright, I love you
Joe." JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ *Quote* People before things; people before
projects; family before friends; husband before children;
husband before parents; tithe before wants; Bible before
opinions; JESUS BEFORE ALL. JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ Tune from "The Rose" Some say hands are made for healing, JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ Hi Again! Let me tell you a little story about the above song. My precious Sis in the Lord.."Lovinlord"...a.k.a. Cheryl, <who, btw puts out some EXCELLENT devotionals herself> passed on this song. It was written by her lovely daughter, Lindsay, a.k.a. Linzeloo. It was last summer when I received it....and at that time, I was part of a little Bible Study group. It was composed of women, that I knew from the past. God just put this little group of women together and we had the best fellowship you could possibly imagine! One of these women...named Wanda, plays the guitar, and sings like an angel!! I took this song to her, and said, "See what you can do with this." So she did. A few meetings later, at a little Christian Coffee House.....she decided to sing this song. One of our friends <Dale> was leaving, due to a job transfer, and Wanda dedicated the song to her. This Coffee House was located in an old house...the atmosphere was so "quaint." Perfect setting for a perfect evening, not to mention all those neat "flavored coffees." Well, anyway...Wanda plays the song, while I dangle the paper in front of her. Brethren, I wish you could have been there! It was sooo awesome. If Jesus wasn't sitting right next to me...then the Holy Spirit was! lol It was soo beautiful. I couldn't wait to tell Cheryl! I am telling you all this, because I see something so valuable here...that I want to impart to you. Lindsay received a gift from the Lord...and just like the old woman in the story above, she shared the gift. And, then, it went around and blessed others!!! I am telling you, if Lindsay had stuffed that song in a drawer...or even if Wanda had stuffed it in her Bible....we would have missed such a Blessing!! My heart swells when I think of what we have for each other! The devil wants us to think we are useless, and we have NOTHING to give. I am so glad Jesus didn't think that way! He gave His very life for me...and the gift of eternal life! I believe that He wants you to know...that You, my precious brethren...also have a gift to impart. But first...you have to be filled, before you can pour out....because you are a "vessel." And that's where He comes in. Let Him impart Himself unto you, in your quiet time...so that you can impart gifts of "life" to others....just like Lindsay...and just like the old woman....and watch it "boomerang" back to you!! You ARE special...and You DO have something to give...! What you have may seem insignificant to you...but it could be something that will literally breathe "life" into others..! What is your gift, Brethren? It could be simple..such as a meal for someone down the road...or holding the hand of someone who just lost a loved one. It could be a kind word, or a smile. Those are all gifts! You will naturally impart it from your heart...as you receive the life-giving flow...that Jesus imparts to you...in your inner room. So...what are you waiting for? Go find your boomerang! I think I saw it in your closet...<smile> Go dig for it..then toss it...and don't duck when it comes back to you. Jump up and receive that thang! Then...by all means...throw it again! <smile> One footnote to this already "special" devotional. Today is our 14th wedding anniversary. The gift that God gave me 14 years ago...is one far greater than anything I could have asked for. I thank Him for the Wonderful, Super, Precious, (not to mention "Nutty") man....that asked me to be his wife. I wanted to "share" this blessing with you, Precious Brethren. I really feel like you all are a part of my life...and I wanted you to know. ;) I love you soo much Brethren...and Jesus does too!! God Bless You!! In Christ!!
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