Breakfast at Mc Donalds

Praise the LORD!!!

   This was a chain letter I received and I don't do them, but the story within it is truly worthy of posting. This is how I shall respond then. I hope you'll enjoy it as I did, to tears, for it seems to be in theme with what the LORD has been working in me today:)))

 Breakfast at Mc Donalds

   I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring, with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.' The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions..
  I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... An overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling' his beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance....... He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend.. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.' I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.' I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son... When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope..' We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.. We are not church goers, but we are believers.That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?' I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God, share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way, I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:


                                                UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to


           LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

Hospitallity, a lost art?,Hebrews 13:16, 12.10.10

 Praise the LORD!!!


    Some of you may of caught my tweets earlier this morning, but for those that haven't, I'll fill you in on what the LORD has laid on my heart this day. A little background on what brought this about first. Yesterday, while working here at the apartments, I had to install a vinyl floor in a bathroom. For years my knees have been bad, due to my years of racing motocross and working on them. I've had my right knee bandaged for the last several weeks and yesterday was no different. I ended up spending the best part of five hours on my knees, crawling around on a concrete floor. This morning, it's slow going and I've called in for the day.


   I was led to re-post my article "A Modern Day Parable," which appears to be the predecessor to this post! On my walk from Ohio to Texas, the first attempt, my left knee went completely out after making it almost all the way across Kentucky. During this long walk, starting off the day before Easter '09', I passed many a church. For the most part I was walking on secondary roads, avoiding major traffic routes, to stay within the bounds of the laws. Of all the churches that I happen to pass, only at one, was any attention paid to a man with a backpack. This was Easter morning and my dog and I were both invited in for breakfast and a service. Yes, Maryanne, my sixty pound wolf-shepherd cross attended service in the chapel too:)

    "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."                                                                                                                                 Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)


   Hospitality is truly a main topic in the Bible, in both the old and new testaments, for it is our showing GOD's love for us to other people around us. With that which GOD has blessed us, we're to bless others that happen along our paths! Now you could do a search on the word itself and not come up with to many hits, but it is hidden in underlying context many times. Generosity, kindness, sharing, even love(charity) could give you a better view of this topic. For all throughout the Bible, GOD instructs us to reach out and help those around us, whether in need or not. The second great commandment is a prime example: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ( Matt. 22:39, Lev. 19:18 ) Now, I don't know about you, but I don't think GOD could be much clearer on this topic than in these verses!!!

   With this being the Advent season, that we celebrate the birth of our SAVIOR, we're being hammered with endless hours of commercials. They're everywhere. The underlying goal of most of these is to profit money through them and not the act of "loving your neighbor as yourself." What else can we expect from a world gone mad over money and self profiteering? The problem is though, that many Christians are falling into this age old trap. Yes, it is a trap. For we're being led to give, inorder to receive something in return! What has happened to Christianity and the church, were our prime example has been traded off for a counterfeit? Where we're led to give joyfully, so others may profit and we, in like manor, also receive back? 

   Yes, the Bible does say that when we give, we shall receive back in like manor(Luke 6:38), but this isn't to be our reason for giving. The reason we're to give is because GOD gave us this example in the first place, HE gave us life from the dust, asking for nothing in return, but our fellowship! Then again, upon the cross, HE gives us even more, forgiveness of our sins and eternal life! As in the first case, HE only ask for our fellowship in return. Do you see a pattern evolving here? One of giving, for the express purpose of showing your love for another of GOD's created beings? No matter the wording used; love/charity, generosity, sharing, kindness or hospitality, they all revolve around our showing the love GOD has shown us, by our open and un-repaid  giving.This is not a suggestion or something we're urged to do occasionally, but a commandment that we should practice continuously!!! Always giving freely and never expecting anything in return!!!  

 

Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org 

GOD bless and good day,

Rev. Marshall Barth

Vine of CHRIST Ministries

Vine Ministerial Network International