A Wonderful Story About Jesus Our Unexpected Guest

A Wonderful Story...

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge

Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter:

Dear Ruth: I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and d like to stop by for a visit. Love Always, Jesus

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table.
" Why would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer. "
With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "

Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. " Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least." She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey,and a carton of milk.........leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm."

Hey lady, can you help us, lady?" Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags "

Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kind a hungry and,well, if you could help us. Lady, we'd really appreciate it."

Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to. "

Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him.""

I understand. Thanks anyway." The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley.

As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.

"Sir,wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them." Look,why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.

"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"

"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering."

You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.
" Thank you lady! Thank you very much!" Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too.

The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the doorkey. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox.

"That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day."

She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.

Dear Ruth: It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat Love Always, Jesus

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer Noticed.

At the end of life, We will NOT be judged by :
" How many diplomas/degrees we have received "
" How much money we have made "
" How many great things we have done "

BUT We WILL be judged by :
" I was hungry and you gave me bread to eat "
" I was naked and you clothed me "
" I was homeless and you took me in."
* Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. *
* Naked not only for clothing - but naked for human dignity and respect.*
* Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks - but homeless because of rejection.

I hope this wonderful story warm your hearts as it did mine.

God works in mysterious ways... Believe it!

WHO AM I in Christ?

1. I am a child of God. (Rom 8:16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
2. I am redeemed from the hand of the devil. (Psa 107:2) Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3. I am Forgiven (Col 1:13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Col 1:14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
4. I am saved by grace through faith (Eph 2: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
5. I am justified by faith (Rom 5:1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
6. I am sanctified (1Co 6:11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
7. I am a New Creature (2Co 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
8. I am a partaker of His Divine Nature (2Pe 1:4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
9. I am redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
10. I am delivered from the powers of darkness (Col 1:13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
11. I am Led by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
12. I am getting all my needs met by Jesus (Phi 4:19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
13. I am casting all my care on Jesus. (1Pe 5:7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
14. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. (Eph 6:10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 15. I am doing all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Phi 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
16. I am an heir to the blessings of Abraham. (Gal 3:13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Gal 3:14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
17. I am blessed coming in and going out. (Deu 28:6) Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
18. I am an inheritor of eternal life. (1Jo 5:11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son. (1Jo 5:12) He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
19. I am blessed with all spiritual blessings. (Eph 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
20. I am healed by his stripes. (1Pe 2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
21. I am exercising my authority over the enemy. (Luk 10:19) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
22. I am more than a conqueror. (Rom 8:37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
23. I am establishing God's Word here on earth. (Mat 16:19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever, thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
24. I am an overcomer by the blood of the lamb and word of my testimony. (Rev 12:11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
25. I am daily Overcoming the devil (1Jo 4:4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
26. I am not moved by what I see. (2Co 4:18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen, are eternal.
27. I am walking by faith and not by sight. (2Co 5:7) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
28. I am controlling my thoughts. (2Co 10:4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) (2Co 10:5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
29. I am being transformed by a renewed mind. (Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Making Sense of Sorrow and Pain

Psalm 84:5-7

Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs;
The autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength
Till each appears before God in Zion.

As I travel through the road of weeping.
The road of sorrow and pain;
My Lord, the God of all Comfort is with me.
He upholds and He sustains.

Just as this earth needs dark clouds and sunshine,
Our souls need both sorrow and joy.
So God allows us to travel,
Often in heart’s anguish deep.

As He leads us through these tribulations,
His omnipotent hand we sought.
For these deep sorrows He sends us
Are His lesson in grace.

Often we run and hide from the pruning,
Not knowing our dear Gardener knows.
The deeper the trimming
The richer the cluster will grow.

Only He knows that deep sorrow is needed;
For the purpose He has in view.
Well, I hear in my heart that day, He gently whispered,
“My dear, take comfort, soon you’ll understand why I do”.

As I travel life’s journey alone.
He promises His love ever with me.
As I learn to rest in Him, assured sorrow and losses
Are but parcel of blessings just sent in disguise.

So, now I follow my Master wherever He leads me.
Be it through path dreary or bright.
For I have proved that my God can
Give songs in the darkest night.”