It was Christmas Eve 2007, and as a family, we were on our way to church to celebrate the birth of the lover of my soul - JESUS! Nothing do I love more, than loving Him. And I love Christmas. We decided to head to our old church for one of their Christmas Eve services. And, well, for me Jesus and coffee go together!
I was thirsting for my favorite drink - a Starbucks! As we pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a car coming through the drive-thru. As the car pulled around the corner, it hit the wall, and a man fell out of the driver’s seat and onto the ground. You could tell that he was very drunk. He could not even walk.
By this time, we were getting out of our car, and in my heart I said to the Lord, “Oh no, I am on my way to church to worship you, Jesus. I am not dealing with this”. I almost tried to deny what I was seeing. And as I was talking to the Lord about this, He lovingly rebuked me. He was stern and yet loving. In that moment, He said to me, “The best way to worship me is by helping someone in need. Go help him.”
So, I looked at my husband and said, “the Lord wants us to help this man”. So, we helped the man get his car parked, and then we helped him into Starbucks. As we helped him, the Lord began to talk to me about this man’s heart, and He told me to begin praying for him. The Lord gave me very specific things that were on His heart for this man. So, I began to pray as the Lord showed me. As I began to pray, the man began to weep. I could see his heart open, and then I saw Jesus enter into his heart. The only thing I had to give this man, was Jesus Himself through a small gift of prayer.
Christmas is such a time of sadness and loneliness for so many people. People without family, people without hope. People without Jesus. It is a time when our hearts as Christians must open up wide, just as Jesus’ heart is open to those in need.
It was a blessing to bring Jesus to this man. And into the atmosphere of Starbucks. And to think, I almost missed the opportunity to see Jesus’ love being poured out due to my own selfishness. A selfishness that was wrapped up in religion, and in my own desire to worship God. Funny how deceived we can be in religious things.
We got to church, just in time for worship. And it was incredible. The presence of God filled the sanctuary. The presence of Jesus radiated that place. Thousands gave their lives to Jesus in those Christmas services.
I am always amazed at how God loves to work through His people, and am humbled to partner with God with such a stewardship.
Acts 3 - A Story from God’s Word
"Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John."
