We are to be Christ minded at all times and do our best to represent The
Savior and His Love through our daily living. We should never turn our 
backs when we see others in need, but rather we are to have the compassion
of the Lord and give freely what they are lacking. The Bible declares in
1 John 3:16-18 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.
And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has
this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart 
from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let
us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” We are to 
have perfect love towards others just as God has towards us and freely give
to others what we have freely been given. (Philippians 2:5-9) (Matthew 10:8)

I hope you are blessed and encouraged by today's message to be helping
towards those who are in need and allow the light that is within you to
shine brightly so that others may come closer to Him.


A HOT CUP OF COFFEE

I don't even know his name. I didn't think to ask, our encounter was so
brief. But I still remember his face, and his eyes.

It was a usual, chilly morning, not much past dawn when I turned off the
highway, taste buds set for a good hot cup of coffee. As I rounded the 
corner for the drive-up window, I saw him in the distance, crossing the
barren parking lot. It was foggy, damp and drizzly, and he wore only 
denims. He headed straight to the dumpster, but found it within its own
fortress, locked behind tall gates.

I hastily ordered an extra cup of coffee and a couple of breakfast
sandwiches, hoping he hadn't gotten too far. As I pulled around, my gaze
scanned the area until I saw him on the far side by the shopping mall. I
wondered where he might be heading now.

As I pulled up along side, I lowered my window and called out, “Hey son,”
and told him I'd brought him a little breakfast.

His humble reply surprised me, “No, you keep that, you bought it for yourself.”

“Oh,” I said, “I got some for myself, too. This is for you.”

He hesitated as he came up to the car to take the steaming cup and small
bag. He seemed obligated to answer a question that hadn't been asked.

“I've been working the carnie,” he said politely.

But I knew the carnival season was long over. His clothes bore the telltale
signs of sleeping on the ground. He shivered in his thin jacket, which was
little comfort against the cold. His teeth had gone the way of all teeth 
without proper care.

I thought of my twice-a-year cleanings and gold crowns. His rugged face 
exceeded his years, I thought. I was sure there were no daily handfuls of
vitamins in his routine, nor routine doctor visits, or medication for 
common colds or flu.

As I briefly glanced into his gentle eyes, I caught a glimpse of a tender
heart, even with all that life seems to have been to him. And I thought of
his mother. This was some mother's son, her bouncing baby boy, who she 
conceived, carried and birthed. Where was she now, I wondered. Does she
know what has become of her precious son? Is she alive, and does she know
that he is alive, or care?

I thought of my own son, still in his youth, and his sweet, tender spirit.
How could I live without him? Without knowing where he was and that he was
well?

“God bless you.” he said.

“Thank you!” I replied most sincerely. “May the Lord bless You, too!”

He headed for shelter from the drizzle under the eave of a not-yet-opened
store and disappeared from my rear-view mirror. I wished I'd bought a whole
bag of sandwiches.

How does this happen to a human being, that he looks for breakfast in a
dumpster? Was he not able to finish school? Did he run away from home at a
young age? Was he or did he feel abandoned? Did he abuse drugs and alcohol?
Who's to know? I cried all the way to work.

I now have a special envelope stuck between the car seats where I keep a 
small supply of gift certificates to McDonalds, Burger King and a 
restaurant and grocery. And when I'm driving, I keep an eye out for someone
who looks like he might need a meal. It doesn't cost much or take much 
effort, and I no longer have to look the other way as I pass by.

I think of him now and then and remember to pray that the Father of all 
would touch his life. I wish he could know how he touched mine and changed
me forever.

By Jill Burnett


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

James 1:22-25 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he 
is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth
himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man 
he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man
shall be blessed in his deed.”

Philippians 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men.”

Luke 6:35-36 Jesus declares “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and
lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye 
shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful
and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.


Today’s Selected Poem: DON'T WAIT
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem13.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: THE SPARROW
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony56.htm


In Christ’s Service, 

Dwayne Savaya 
Gods Work Ministry