Ever feel that God places in you in the 'right-place-at-the-right-time', in a position to help others?
For anyone who has ever felt that feeling, that you MUST do something to help- and you follow that gut instinct- I think it speaks volumes in sharing Christ's love.
I have a few stories to share, that I hope will inspire you to listen to that prompting to help others, as I have encountered a few moments that have inspired me too...
I don't see a lot of beggars in Barrie. We live in a safe city with some good homeless shelters, that I personally find it pretty rare to come across one.
However, I have encountered 2 times in the past couple of months, of seeing beggars along Mapleview Drive. Completely separate occasions. Both times were on a cold, snowy, windy day... one was a teenager months ago... and another was a man in his thirties last week. Those are the only times I have seen beggars in Barrie.
On Encounter number 1, it was the teenager. I remember I was driving home back onto the 400, after visiting the dollar store on the south side. While I was there, I decided to buy 2 chocolate bars. Don't ask me why. I guess I was having a 'chocolate craving' that day.
As I was making my way in my vehicle, driving from Mapleview to the 400, I was sitting at the stoplight. I saw the teen beggar to my left, he had a sign that said "Spare Change Please". I looked down at my car seat at the two chocolate bars I had bought. Surely, I had 2 for some odd reason, other than to eat them myself. I didn't have any spare change, so I decided to scroll down my window and pass on one of the chocolate bars to the teen. He was SO grateful, he said: "God Bless You!!!"
Wow... that seriously impacted me... It was a totally unexpected thing for him to say... and truthfully, that teen beggar blessed me more than I could ever bless him with a chocolate bar! I was in awe by what he told me! Surely, God had planned for us to cross paths, even if it was just for a little snack. That was scenario number 1.
Scenario number 2, was just last week. This time it was another cold, blowy, snowy day, and again, I was driving from the south side to Bayfield to purchase some household items. I stopped into the bank to withdraw a set amount of cash I had originally budgeted for my expenditures, off Mapleview.
As I was driving from Mapleview to the 400, again, at the same spot where I had seen the begging teen a couple of months ago, I saw another beggar. You could tell he was feeling cold. Now, I rarely carry cash on me... in fact, as much as I don't like to admit- I almost never do. Maybe a couple of quarters Id have in my coin purse- but that's it. It is extremely rare that I would be driving around with a couple of $20 dollar bills, as I am more of a 'debit-card' kind of a purchaser. But this day... I had an idea of what I needed, and I made the choice to withdraw money at the bank. Don't ask me why.
When I saw beggar number 2 at Mapleview, this time- He was carrying a sign that read "Hungry, God bless you." I KNEW I had money, but I also knew I had things to buy. The question came into my head as I was sitting at the stoplight... should I give him some of my money? Truthfully, it was a very cold day. Truthfully, I had stuff to buy. You could tell the man was shivering behind his scarf and cardboard sign. So, I took the plunge and decided to pass on a crisp 20 dollar bill to the beggar. When I did that, I saw THE BIGGEST smile I have ever seen on a strangers face! It was an unforgettable moment... He said "Thank you, thank you. God bless you!!!"
He immediately then walked away from the spot he was begging from (Im assuming to buy some food, or whatever he needed), and the smile on his face was radiating from the time he walked away.
Again, another incredible moment. He seriously blessed me, more than I could bless him.
Those were my only 2 encounters with beggars in Barrie. Both times, God 'set things up' to make sure I had something to give when we crossed paths. Both times, the beggars believed in God. How incredible to know that beggars in Barrie TRUST God to provide for them... WOW.
One more story to share... and this unforgettable moment of giving to a stranger happened in Vancouver, BC, more than 10 years ago. Again, a moment I will never forget... its just one of those incredible times worth sharing, as I remember it to this day.
I had just quit my job from working at a Vancouver radio station, to take on a radio job in Alberta. It was my farewell party with friends in downtown Vancity. I stopped into the bank to make sure I had enough cash for the dinner. As walked into the bank, I saw a man sitting on the corner, by the bank, with a hat on the ground in front of him. I wondered if I should withdraw money for both myself and for him. After much contemplating, I did so anyways.
When I stepped out of the bank, I looked at the man, and remember clearly saying, "OK- I'm going to give you 20 bucks, but please promise me you wont buy any drugs with it" (I guess it shouldn't matter anyways what he does with the money... but that's what I said at the time!!!) The beggar said, "No maam, I promise I don't do any kinds of drugs. I am a Christian, and I just needed some help tonight for some food." He then proceeded to show me his cross necklace- and he said... "For the past few hours, I was praying to Jesus that someone would help me out!!! This is an answer to my prayer. God is so good! "
WOW. Another incredible experience with a stranger, I will never forget.
Moral of these 3 stories are... when we share what we have with those in need, God blesses us... even more than we know!!! Seriously... its so cool to hear that ALL these beggars had such strong faith in Christ... and when Christians respond, it gives them proof that Jesus is REAL.
So the next time we cross a beggar on the street, or a friend who is in need,
let's ask ourselves: "Could this be Jesus in disguise?" (in the words of Brandon Heath)
This past week I was reading a passage in the bible in Matthew 25... a good one to wrap up this blog:
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
