Ready, Set, Go!

These words are those of Cheryl Griffin, who was diagnosed March 22nd with breast cancer and is traveling back to Jacksonville, Florida for her treatment.

Monday and Tuesday of next week I have five appointments at Mayo Clinic. The time has come to get this breast cancer treatment started and the cancer conquered. I am ready, and very much at peace, thanks be to God. I have known so many precious sisters and brothers in Christ who have met their cancer diagnosis with strength, courage and grace.
With God's help, I plan to do no less. God is in control and the Great Physician. What better hope and peace could a person need. I am thankful for God's provision of praying friends and family, and can never thank you enough for lifting me up. 
So, please pray for: 

1. a "surprise divine healing" when the doctors view my MRI'S on Monday,
2. If that is not God's will, then please pray that the MRI'S will still show an early breast cancer diagnosis, 
3. that I will feel comfortable and at peace with the doctors that have been chosen to handle my treatment. 
4. peace and strength for Frank as he goes through these two long days with me at Mayo. 

I love you all, and thank God always for you and your faithfulness. I'll keep you updated.

To Tithe or Not to Tithe...is that the question?

A Life story from Debbie Tipton:
It's no secret to anyone who has Facebook that H and I have been experiencing a real storm in our lives since July of 2009.  There have been times of fear, uncertain in how we were going to survive financially.  
Paying our tithes had been one thing that we refused to stop because we knew that we would be tying God's hands from blessing us if we did.  However, the last few weeks I did withhold our tithes because I just didn't see how we could pay them and still be able to pay our house payment.  This past Monday God reminded me that we were two checks behind on our tithes.  
I argued with God and said, "But if I pay them, Lord, I won't be able to pay the house payment."  
He just said, "MALACHI 3:10".  He didn't quote it out, just gave the book, chapter and verse.  He was so emphatic about it that I knew He was telling me to trust Him in this. 
By the way this is  the only time that God ever asks us to test Him.
 
I emailed Judy, who serves with the finance team, and asked her if I could bring my tithe check to her. 
She said "You can just bring it to me Wednesday." 
I told her I was afraid to do that because if I didn't get it into her hands I might be tempted to use it for our needs.  
She said "Okay, bring it on out to me".  
The whole time I was praying, "God I am stepping out in faith here, please meet our needs!"

Fast forward to Thursday, my car breaks down.  A 2008 Honda that should not be breaking down.  By faith I took it to the dealership repair chop, not knowing how I was going to pay for it to be fixed, yet refusing to let the enemy work on me with fear, instead choosing to claim God's promises the whole time.  I knew I had paid our tithe, and God had promised to open up the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing that we couldn't contain.  That doesn't specifically say that the blessings are financial, but I sure was praying for it to be.
Not only was my house payment due the following Tuesday, but now a car repair bill of about $100.00, not to mention that we owe $300.00 to the IRS and had also been praying for God to provide a way to pay off a bill that we had so it would make it easier on us with our monthly bills.  Still I had perfect peace over it all, knowing that God was going to do something.  I had been obedient with the tithe and I trusted that He was going to show up.

On to Friday...H brings in the mail.  There was a thick envelope in there from a law firm in Charleston, SC.  I thought oh great, what now? When I opened it, I couldn't believe my eyes...there was a check for $5500.00 in there! It was a settlement check for a class action suit that was filed over 15 yrs ago! 
GOD HAD SHOWN UP!!! HE had done what HE HAD PROMISED!  Never again will I ever withhold a tithe check because I am afraid that I won't be able to pay bills, first because its robbing God and second because I am tying HIS hands from blessing us!

SIDENOTE...When I picked up my car, the mechanic told me that a relay had stuck in the open position and was drawing current even though the car was turned off.  He said in his 13 yrs of being a Honda mechanic he had only seen this happen one other time and it was the week before.  First of all God was testing me... was I going to be ruled by fear or by
faith with my car breaking down...Secondly he had a lady with another car that had the same problem the week before so that the mechanic would know what was wrong with mine.

So if you are wondering whether you should pay your tithe or pay a bill...I strongly urge you, pay the tithe...you are tying God's hands with your disobedience if you don't!

God is still on His throne and still answering prayer AND meeting our needs...What God promised, He is faithful to do!

Sharing the Word in Haiti

Not long ago, Greg Roberts, our staff missionary, sent word that the church-run clinic that he's working with in Port au Prince needed Bibles to share with people. The people in their church still have a Bible, but those who come to the clinic -- some do not attend a church, some do not know of God, and the staff want to be able to share His love with them even after they leave the clinic. 


Erik Swanson, a gentleman who is a member of KnoxLife in Knoxville and assists our students with our homeless ministry, found a place to purchase New Testaments with Psalms in them in the Kreyol (Creole) language the Haitian people speak for $9.99 each. A full Bible is over $30. So, we set out to get at least 100 of these New Testaments to send to Haiti. 

We put out the word to our friends and family. Through Twitter, Facebook, email and word-of-mouth, God moved people to give, and provided enough to purchase 140 New Testaments. Small enough to fit in a pocket or purse, we know that the words these people will read hold life. 

Soon, 140 Haitians will get their very own copy of the New Testament! Thanks to you! If you'd like to help provide more, visit the Donations page on churchofthecove.org and give! Choose the Haiti button, and when you make the donation, be sure to note in the "Special ways you want these funds spent?" box that you want it to go to Bibles.

A Trip to Haiti - Good, Bad, Ugly

I sat with Mark Chipperfield to hear his story about his trip to Haiti last week. Below I will share some of what he told me. This is a long post, some of it is not pretty, but it is all real. -- Faye Bryant

Mark and Brian Williams flew to Orlando, then drove to Ft. Lauderdale to catch a private jet that was carrying supplies to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. They each found a seat in this plane completely surrounded by supplies. The pilot told them they were carrying the maximum weight the plane could carry. Then, when they took off, they noticed the plane wasn't ascending into the sky. Shortly, they realized they were banking away from their destination and soon landed again. Seems someone had forgotten to unlock the landing gear so that the pilot could pull it up to achieve altitude. Mark said, "At that point, at least we knew they could land the thing."

First stop, Turks and Caicos Islands for refueling. (Mark didn't say so, but I imagine there was some unfolding of a couple of tall guys for a few minutes.) There they encountered personnel at the airport who begged them to take some of the mass of supplies they have waiting to go to Haiti. Since they were already overloaded, they couldn't do anything to help.

After landing in Barahona and making their way to Jimani, near the Haitian border, Mark and Brian saw chaos. Organized to some degree, but chaos nonetheless. They saw the two-story hospital building, the orphanage building, the chapel, a large revival-type tent over-filled with people and much more.

They met up with some folks from North Carolina. Finally! Someone who spoke their language! This group had already been there several days and planned to stay a few more. They showed Brian and Mark around, explaining the layout of the hospital and what was going on. They shared about the 6.0 aftershock they'd experienced the morning before, seeing people jumping out of the second floor of the hospital and orphanage, others running outside screaming, because of their fear.

The guys from North Carolina shared about their sleeping accommodations -- a tent set up next to the post-op tent (large open-sided, revival-type tent) where they'd tried to go to sleep the night before, but were kept awake by the generator running. When the generator was finally shut down, they spent the rest of the night praying it would be turned back on, the screams of people suffering now filling the air. Only local anesthesia for those enduring amputations or other medical procedures.

Next they headed toward Port au Prince. The roads are not fun, I was told. Mark said he saw little of earthquake damage until they got very close to the city. They went to the house that has been leased by Church of the Cove and Chadasha Foundation for our missionary outpost. One of the walled fences had been damaged and there are cracks in the walls of the house, but it's foundation is sound. Not every house in that neighborhood fared the same. Just a couple doors down lay a pile of rubble that was once a house, and the odor that came from it told the tale of those who had been inside at the time of the collapse.

During their stay, Mark and Brian helped repair the wall at the house, helped install water filtration systems at the house and at Pastor Jude's church. They were going to install one at Bobby's orphanage, but found out that the well that was dug by hand in the past year was damaged in the quake and is now filled with brackish water. A new well will have to be dug there.

They also traveled around the city, delivering food and other supplies to places where they were needed.

As they traveled back through Jimani to Barahona to head home, they were surprised to find the guys from North Carolina still on duty, still serving. A moment of time is frozen in both Brian and Mark's minds: A moment when tears and wails continued in the post-op tent until Pastor Tim (from NC) went in with an interpreter and began singing worship songs and hymns. It was an amazing sight to see people in so much pain, with so much damage in their lives, lifting their hands and voices to God in worship.

A fitting end to a rough trip.

Pictures & Video

Mark Chipperfield shares this video he made of the trip to Haiti last week.

Stories from Haiti - Brian Williams

Brian Williams shares a moment he remembers from his stay:

We were in Port Au Prince for a medical clinic for those whose injuries and medical issues weren't trauma-related or serious enough to be sent to a mobile hospital. We showed up at the little church where Jude and his wife Yannick pastor.

The little courtyard was already overflowing with people waiting to see a doctor. While we were setting up inside, Yannick was speaking to all those outside. She started leading them in song. I heard these beautiful melodies and looked into faces that were turned upward to God with hands raised. Faces that were in pain or were sick or were worried when they arrived, were now praising God.

All of us inside stopped what we were doing and were just amazed at the sight and beautiful sounds. There wasn't a dry eye among us.

Report from Haiti

Greg shares some of the things He's seen during his time in Haiti:

I have seen God and His power in the good and the bad. I truly believe God allowed this to happen to bring not only the people of Haiti to Himself, but also everyone who is coming to help Haiti.

I have been in some of the worst hit areas and I've seen dead bodies everywhere I looked. In the midst of that horror, I watched three Haitian doctors that I had the blessing of driving to this area jump right in and start helping the people who were injured.

I have seen children lose their arms and legs, and even one that lost both legs, and in the midst of that, the parent was still thanking God that they were alive because they had watched their other family members die.

I have seen people cry because they got enough food to feed their family another day and I have seen fighting over what little food was there.

I have heard stories of hundreds of people coming to Christ in the middle of the street as buildings were still falling around them, because Pastor Joaneme was telling them about the only way to be saved.

I have heard about Pastor Jude and Yanick who have given away everything they had to eat, because they knew the Lord was going to send their provision, and then I drove up the same day with a truckload of food.

I was handed $15,000 one day by a man who said God had told him to do it, because he knew I would spend it on the Haitian people. Another man handed me $8,000 for me to spend on the ministry. Another man who gave $25,000 for us to use in assisting the people. Yes, that is $48,000 in one week. The need is great, prices are enormous, and a large amount of that money has already been used to provide food for people.

More reports will be coming throughout the coming weeks.

How do you plan a trip to Haiti after an earthquake?

from e-mail sent out Wednesday, January 13, 2010:

Greg Roberts, our church missionary, was planning to leave Monday for a medical trip to Haiti. The plan included four medical clinics and assisting with a couple of surgeries in the country.

Yesterday's 7.0 earthquake radically changed those plans.

Today, Greg spent a lot of time with Chris Keylon and other members of the Chadasha Foundation, working on plans for going to assess the situations in Port au Prince.

First, they "somehow" managed to get the last two seats on a plane flying out of Knoxville tomorrow morning. Then they were able to rent the last truck available for rent in Santo Domingo. Wonder how that happened.

While they were rejoicing over those things, they were visited by a gentleman who is part of a major ministry that serves in disaster relief. He was in Sri Lanka after the tsunamis hit and other places around the world. He shared with the men going on this trip to Haiti the things they must look for and not overlook. He told them things they must avoid. He shared advice with them that will be truly priceless.

As an aside before he left, he shared with Greg and the others that his ministry is partnered with 15 other ministries that pour over $500 million dollars each year into assisting around the world and that he was there to tell them that these ministries are behind what Church of the Cove and Chadasha is doing.

While our guys were celebrating that news, a phone call came in and was put on speaker phone so all could hear. Stanley Brock of Remote Area Medical Missions told Greg and Chris and the others that RAMM is considering them to be their assessment team, too. And, by the way, next week, they would be sending a team of seven doctors and a C-130 airplane loaded with all the medical supplies they could get on it. Some of those supplies will include a couple of four-wheelers and motorcycles to help the guys get around.

Whew! Greg made it to church a little early to meet with the elders to have them pray with him about the trip, seeking God's discernment. While in that meeting, his phone rang. Chris Keylon was on the line to share with him that Lonnie, a gentleman from Huntsville, Alabama, that they've been talking with had put $140,000 into a bank account for them to use for missions in Haiti. With that money, the plan is to purchase a car -- possibly a "new" car with a dent -- somewhat inexpensively and a flat-bed truck as well. Then, instead of renting a car for every trip, the teams can drive these vehicles.

Meanwhile, Stanley Brock of Remote Area Medical told the guys that RAMM would station one of their planes in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami for the use of these teams flying to render aid in Haiti. (Imagine paying $49 for a flight to Haiti instead of several hundred!)

As the infomercial goes, BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

After arriving at home tonight, Greg got a call telling him that Lonnie in Huntsville has an acquaintance who is a Defense contractor. They had someone drive from Huntsville to Knoxville tonight to deliver to Chris a satellite phone for their use in Haiti.

When God plans a trip, it's not only planned, it's financed and supplied supernaturally!

You can still help. Donations can be made on the church website, there will be some trips coming up soon, and the most important of all, you can pray. We invite you to set aside some time each day to pray for Greg, Chris and their companion, Brian, as they assess the need and envision God's plan for us there. Ask God to give them discernment and wisdom in planning.

My Own 40 Day Journey

...by Rhonda Wigington

As most of you know, Darren, my husband, and our pastor, is on Day 33 of a 40 Day Sabbatical. A few weeks before he even knew that the Lord was asking this of him, the Lord put in my heart that He was about to require more of me. When the 40 Days came about, I thought that was what He was requiring of me. You see, Darren and I have always been not only partners in life, but in ministry as well. I felt that the separation was going to be what He required.

Little did I know that the 40 Days was going to be a tool that He used to show me exactly what He was requiring. As the weeks went on, circumstances and situations that were going on with Darren and me, and messages I heard here at the Church of the Cove (thank you, Logan, Bryan, Tony and Jim) caused me to stop in my tracks. God began to peel back all the layers of my heart - and it wasn't pretty. He gave me a scripture that I didn't like very well.

"I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove all your impurities" Isaiah 1:25b

See, I thought everything was okay. I loved the Lord, talked to Him and He talked to me. My worship has been real and I continue to be amazed by Him. But, the Lord began to show me that I was just on the surface. He wanted me to go so much deeper. He began to show me sins that I had hidden deep, deep in my heart that I wasn't willing to let go of - jealousy, pride, fear, insecurity (He showed me that all insecurity is, is putting trust in something or someone besides Him). I had buried these sins so deep and hidden them so long (from almost everyone except my husband and kids) that I thought I could just ignore them and that God would ignore them too. But, through the 40 Days, God let me know that He loves me so much that He can't ignore them.

So, He is skimming off the slag - it's painful. The songs we sing mean so much more to me today than they did a few weeks ago. As we sing "Come With Love" I know that He has come to me and told me that He is jealous for me. He wants all of me. When we sing "From The Inside Out", I truly pray that He will consume me from the inside out. I want to lose myself in bringing Him praise.

I need your prayers. I'm still wrestling this thing out. The Word says to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. I struggled with sharing this with you. I felt that you may not respect me anymore, but I know that was the enemy. I feel so burdened to share this, because I feel that there are more people like me. People who know in the deepest part of their heart that God is asking them to let go of their junk, but they keep pushing it deeper and deeper, thinking they can just ignore it.

I'm begging you to let go of it. The longer you hold on, the harder it is and the more painful the process. God is getting us ready for something HUGE. Let's give up - surrender.
I feel that I need to share that I love my husband dearly. I miss him so much and can't wait until he gets home. BUT, Darren is not my savior. The only place I can find real identity and security is in Christ Alone. That is the only place you will find yours too.

Loaves $$$ Multiplied

The Lord had already placed a couple on my heart before Kevin came and shared his powerful message, but I didn't know "what" or "how" to help. This couple has had cancer, financial and many other issues thrown at them; yet they stand strong in their faith. The husband is working hard at 2-3 jobs doing everything he can. They have been such an inspiration to me and others.

On the morning the envelopes were passed out, I received $10. I was so excited because I knew "who" mine was going to, but I didn't know "how." I just kept praying about it and then one night I watched as two other ladies had their crafts they had made auctioned off and raised $175. It was so exciting to see God move. I went home still praying about what I was to do with mine. The next day I was standing in the kitchen baking and I felt the Lord speaking to me and saying, "You make banana bread all the time, just do that." So I did. God started working right away!

He provided sugar, bananas and chopped walnuts just when I needed them at 1/2 price. I was able to bake up 20 loaves. I spoke with Rhonda, my pastor's wife, about bringing them to church on Wednesday night. Darren had been praying about the best way to go about it. Without naming any names of the recipients, he briefly shared their struggle and how the proceeds from the bread would go to help them.

The Lord moved in the hearts of His people and they started raising their hands to purchase the loaves. The bread was delivered to their tables, with each one giving what they felt led to give and no one knew what each one gave. In just a few moments, the Lord had provided $600.00!!!! Praise God!!!! Today, the check was put in their hands and the lady cried tears of joy. It was SO awesome!!! Ephesians 3:20

---Anonymous

Tim

A story from one of our students about our August visit with the homeless:

I sat down with Tim just to keep him company as he ate. Once I sat down, he just started crying. He told me of his life as an alcoholic. His mother abandoned him twice as a child.

Tim’s drinking had helped him lose his 16-year-old daughter, his job, and his home. For four years, he has lived on the streets of Knoxville passing out drunk under bridges, drinking the pain away. He told me “You're sitting there smiling at me and I do not really know why.”

I said “I’m sitting here smiling because I have a hope for you!” We talked for quite awhile as I encouraged him to fight back, stop drinking, get a job and a house, and get his daughter back, but do it with God’s help. He didn’t seem to believe that God could change everything.

Yet, as I went on telling him all of the ways God has worked in my life and our church he started to want to know about our faith. Tim didn’t have any faith in himself, but my confidence in how God could change his life started to change his attitude.

One moment really hit him, he said, “I’m not going to lie, I have a bottle of beer in my backpack.” We had been giving out bags of hygiene products and Bibles, and I replied, “You received a bag from us, so you also have a Bible in your backpack now.” He did not know how to react to that moment.

Soon we had to leave, but we prayed, and I encouraged him to fight back with God on his side. He said I gave him a lot to think about.

--Brenna Barry

Gratitude

We think our money may have gone the furthest- geographically, that is. We gave our money to Lydia, a volunteer at Wears Valley Ranch from Germany. A Bible student, she chose to donate her time to the kids and staff at Wears Valley. She paid her own way over here, and did not receive any pay for all she did at the Ranch. Lydia's love for Christ and others was obvious as she served selflessly and joyfully. Together with the Housers' envelope, we gave the money to her in a thank-you note before she boarded the plane to go back to Germany. We do not know how she will use it, but we trust that the Lord will bless her with it.

-- Jay & Sarah Stenfors

Trailer

God sent COTC to Folsom, Louisiana after Katrina hit in 2005. He sent some a few to Baton Rouge last year after Gustav hit Baton Rouge. He placed a dream in the hearts of His people for a nice-sized box trailer to serve as disaster relief and to assist in the moving we help people with.

On Thursday, August 20, 2009, God fulfilled those dreams by giving Church of the Cove a 28-foot (8 1/2 ft wide) trailer. It's set up with a commercial Onan generator, wired up with lights inside. It also has a side entry, covered over by an awning the length of the trailer. It's top-notch and like new.

Cost: Using it to serve God and give Him glory.

More details here.

Double up!

The Lord is leading us to double the amount that was in our envelopes to buy more food for the food pantry.

-- Phil & Kay Horton

Running from God

When I took my envelope out of the basket, I began to pray that moment about who God would have me give it to. In the course of the week, he placed a family in our path who broke my heart.

They have been living in a place that is about to be condemned. They have no shower, no way to wash clothes and he only has 1 set of clothes. They also have a teenage daughter. I felt such a burden for them, but asked the Lord to confirm that they were the ones.

My husband had a chance to share with the father of the family, who wept as he told my husband that he had felt the Lord calling him into the ministry years ago and had run from God. Just this week God has led this father to stop gambling and stop smoking.

Today I gave him the envelope and my husband and I helped with their small business venture, and we plan to take their daughter back to school shopping. We are praying for them and we expect a miracle in their lives as God reveals Himself to them!!!

-- Anonymous

Blessings

Yesterday, at the Walmart in Alcoa, God drew our attention to Peggy, a young mother with 15-month old twin daughters. The expression on her face when we gave her the money is something we'll never forget. In fact, it was such a great experience that we plan to set aside some money from our monthly income to keep the blessings going.

-- Ed & Carolyn DeWhitt

Seeds

The Lord has been dealing with me to plant a seed into the church food pantry, other than the one I made when the "shopping list" came out & I purchased most of the items on it to help get everything set up.

I am reminded of II Corinthians 9:10,

And God who continually supplies seed for the sower (thats me) and bread for eating will supply you with seed and multiply it and cause your almsgiving to yield a plentiful harvest.

Sunday morning, just as the worship service began, I committed to an amount and then we listened to Kevin Cross and he spoke on how his church helps people out. I was so impressed AGAIN by how God confirms His promise to us that if we sow into the Kingdom above our tithe He will give us more seed to sow. He gave a seed before I had a chance to write my check.

-- Anonymous

A Larger Lesson

As Kevin requested, I wanted to share my experience with the reverse offering request he made during last Sunday's service. First of all, I need to say that I am not a an "official" member of the Church of the Cove. I have been attending Sunday morning services at the Cove, as a visitor, for the last 4 Sundays. God willing, I'll be there this Sunday too.

I had read about Kevin Cross's visit and his plan for the reverse offering in the Maryville Daily Times on Saturday, so I knew it was coming before I got to the service on Sunday. Therefore, my intention was to not participate, since I am not a member, and to just put an offering in the plate as I had done the previous Sundays. However, that is not what God had planned for me. When the reverse offering came to my row, I decided to take an envelope and then thought to myself "I'll just put a double offering in next Sunday". Then Darren assured everyone after Kevin spoke that we could still give our offering if we felt led to after the service. Well after the service, it still did not seem right to put my offering in the plate, so I said my goodbyes and left. On the way home, I live in Alcoa by the way, I opened my envelope to see a $10.00 bill. For some reason, I felt God was telling me to put my personal offering into the envelope with the $10.00, so that is what I did.

Now immediately, I began to try and think of the best way to put this offering to work for God. All the way home, I was looking for that one person that God was going to show me; a stranded motorist, a homeless person, a poor family in line at the restaurant where I ate lunch, you know, somebody "deserving" enough to give the offering to. Well, I didn't see anybody that "fit the description" all the way home so I thought, no big deal, its still Sunday and I have 6 more days to do this and report my results.

Well Sunday passed...then Monday came and went without seeing anybody that "fit my profile" and now Tuesday was here. I was in line at Food City to pay for my grocery items and the lady in front of me had lots of groceries, so I was patiently waiting my turn and watching. I noticed she had some paperwork on the checkout bar that had the letters WIC on it. I knew that to be the Government assistance program for low-income families that need extra help with basic food items. I thought "This could be it!" This is the one God wants me to help", but then I remembered I had left the envelope with the offering in it, in my car. At that moment, I was distracted by the cashier at the next aisle over who said she could take me at her register, so I went over to her register paid for my stuff and left. I felt guilty, thinking here I had passed up on the one God wanted me to give to. Then I rationalized to myself, maybe she was not the right one and God will still provide "the one" at another time.

Now it was Wednesday, and I was headed to Chik-fil-A for dinner and happened to see a young lady sitting on the ground, near a major intersection in Maryville. She was holding a cardboard sign, but I could not read it from the distance I was at. She was on the opposite side of the street from me and I was headed in the opposite direction from her. I thought at that moment, "God, now this has to be the one You want me to give the offering to". I had no idea what the sign said, but I assumed she was asking for food or money. Well, I was only a few yards from Chick-fil-A, so I reasoned within myself "I'll just swing through the drive-thru real fast, get my food, and then head back to where she was and give her the offering".....it will take 4-5 minutes tops...no harm..no foul. So I went through, got my food and drove back to where the young lady was.....and she was gone! What? Where could she be...I pulled over and looked around and could not see her. I know God was wanting me to give her the offering. Why couldn't she have waited just five more minutes?

Needless to say, I was disappointed and again felt guilty for not helping someone that God had clearly put in front of me. For the past few days, I had been praying and asking God to show me where he wanted me to put this offering. I felt He had been answering me and pointing these folks out to me, but yet I could not seem to get it done.

Well Thursday rolled around, and I went out to lunch at one of the local Ruby Tuesday's. I never go to sit down restaurants like these for lunch because of work time constraints, but this day was different, work was slow and I needed a good break. I had planned on going to a fast food chain, but changed my mind at the last minute. Anyway, I went in sat down and ordered my food. While eating my salad and waiting on my main dish, I began casually watching/listening to the interaction between a waitress and an elderly couple seated in the booth beside mine. Apparently the couple had each ordered the same meal, but the waitress misunderstood and thought they were going to share a meal. So when she brought out their food, there was only one dish and she brought an empty plate "just in case the other wanted to have a bite", the waitress said. Well the couple calmly explained that they had both ordered the same dish and that one would not be enough for the both of them. The elderly lady also explained that part of her dish was incorrectly prepared. The waitress was really embarrassed and profusely apologized and vowed to get another dish prepared as quickly as possible. The waitress also offered to keep the one dish on a hot plate while the other was being prepared so it would not get cold.

By the time the elderly couples food was properly prepared and brought out, I had finished my meal and was ready to pay for it and leave. At that moment I felt like God was tugging on my heart to pay for the elderly couples meal as well. I wasn't sure why, because they did not "fit my profile", but I was not going to let another opportunity slip by me. So when my waitress came around I asked for the elderly couples bill to be put with mine, and she obliged without hesitation. After paying the bills, I got up to leave and the elderly couples waitress came up to me and said "Thank-you very much!". I did not speak to the elderly couple and as far as I know they did not know that their meal had been paid for until sometime after I had left.

I detailed the above events in order to share with you how, I believe, God used the entire experience to teach and remind me valuable lessons of His offering of Grace towards His children. Unlike what I was doing, God does not go about looking for someone that is "deserving" of His offering of Grace. His offering of Grace is freely available to all...A..W..L....all (sorry I had to throw Darren's favorite phrase in there).

I had been looking for someone that would "fit the profile" that I had in my head of somebody who "deserved" the offering. But God led me to the elderly couple who did not "fit my profile" that I had initially set out to find. They did not "deserve" it....they did not "earn" it, and they did not "win" it. Sadly, but thankfully, I was wrong in my thinking and God was willing to be patient with me and remind me how His offering of Grace works. Because, if God was only looking for people who "fit the profile" of "deserving" His offering of Grace, I would surely not fit and be doomed to Hell. Thankfully, His Grace is offered undeserved, unmerited, and unearned to all who will receive.

Thanks for letting me share my experience.

P.S. - As it turned out, the cost of the elderly couple's meal was almost exactly the amount of money that was in my offering envelope, so I accept this as confirmation from God that this was what He wanted.

--Stephen Halcomb

Workplace Ministry

I actually had a lady, who was about my age (20s), come in my workplace yesterday with her two children. She was asking for money to feed her children. I thought, "This is God telling me to use that money we were to minister with." Her daughter was about five and she gave me a huge hug.

I felt God working yesterday for sure!

--Anonymous

Turn around!

One man was driving toward his errands in Maryville and saw a man walking alongside the road carrying a backpack. As the man was returning from Maryville, he saw the same man, still walking.

Sensing the Lord's instruction to stop, he turned around and picked the man up. He drove him to Maryville and dropped him off, giving him the envelope of cash, letting him know that God had provided for him that day.