Yesterday I had an encounter with a person so bitter over Christmas, it offended her.

I shared a bit about it yesterday.

However they got to that place of hurting did not matter. They were there. So much so they would break policy and find themselves constantly on the lookout for their boss to change the music back.

At first, I did not know what to do. I was taken back. But I knew Jesus loved them. So, I gently prophesied into their life. When I left, I was told “thank you”. Tears had welled up.

“Jesus loves you” was my parting gift.

I admit, at first I was angry with her. I wanted to tell her go start your own business. Don’t take your anger out on others.

After all I was spending money and I had “rights”.

All day long that situation nagged at me. By bedtime I had thought it through a lot.

The church has a mission. It is to love the unloveable.

The other day I saw a person begging money. On their sign, the closing statement was “God bless you”.

I spent the next few moments thinking about whether it was a scam. Whether the person was truly in need or had a Mercedes parked behind the building.

Did they really have need? Did it matter?

Wow! Am I struggling with my faith? My beliefs?

The cashier did not need someone to hand her a “Merry Christmas” button. They needed the love of the Lord. No matter how they got there, they were there. Perhaps the church drove them there.

Only the other day I spent time with someone who had been living with someone. What they witnessed and received was judgment, hypocrisy and worse. They love Jesus. I believe it. But church, well, not so much.

Last night I spent time with someone going through a very difficult time.

Two of the scriptures I spoke of included Galatians 5 and 1 Corinthians 13.

One of the fruits of the Spirit is LONGSUFFERING. One of the ways we are called to do that is by “believing the best”.  For love is patient…

I am reminded of Jesus telling His disciples.

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Too often we ask God to bless us without thinking about what that means. A lot of the time He is blessing you by placing people in your path. Sometimes His blessing occurs when you or I go through hard times.

But over the years I have come to the conclusion that be blessed by God means more responsibility. More charity. More love.

This song has always meant a lot to me.

More love, more power
More of You in my life
More love, more power
More of You in my life

Love seems to precede power. And what if that power is to change the hearts of others with love. To overcome a community with His blessing. His love. What if it is to bless those you don’t want to?

I think there is a cashier deserving of an envelope of His love. Not a tract. A beggar in need of His love.

His love, our love. His faith, our faith. His blessing, our blessing will always be coupled to a deeds.

We all want to climb the mountain. Part of the climb is taking others.