This morning as we were getting ready for worship.  A couple of guys came across the street to get water out of our cooler.  I brought some donuts out and while we were talking another man came across the street.   We talked a few minutes and he asked when service started.  I told him, and invited him to come on in, since the coffee was hot and the chairs were plentiful.   This man told me how he had returned to Corpus Christi from San Antonio and was here to do some work for a man for a few weeks.  He said that he normally lived in one of the shelters when he came to town.

As the morning went on, I learned that he had once been on fire for the Lord, but had made some choices that led him into the land of the prodigal.   He went on to say that God had been convicting him about his need to return to the loving arms of his Heavenly Father.   He admitted that he had been fighting the conviction that he needed to return to church, and in fact had no intention of being in a church today, but when he saw Mike and I talking with the other two men, he knew he had to come.

Before the day was over we prayed with him, had him join us for lunch and got him a shower and fresh change of clothes.  Tomorrow he will be looking to get into one of the missions and I invited him to spend the morning with me down at the church until his work begins in the afternoon.

Also this morning I got a phone call from a man who had no food in his house and does not receive his monthly money until the 3rd.  His request was simple:  some eggs, some bologna and a loaf of bread.   The Lord prompted me that I needed to respond.   I showed up on his doorstep an hour later and he invited me in.  He was somewhat surprised that I had actually followed through on my promise.   As we talked I learned that he suffers from severe diabetes and that he is trying to make things work on $767/month.  His rent takes $450 and his medicine takes another $200.

As we talked he said, “I need to be truthful with you.  I got your number off of your TV program.”  I laughed and told him, that I was glad somebody was watching it.   As we talked further he shared his uncertainty of whether or not he was truly a redeemed child of God, bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus.   I shared with him, how he could have certainty today.  He told me that he would not pray in front of me, because he didn’t want my presence to influence his response, but the mist in his eyes told me that my words had gone straight to his heart.

He hugged me as I left and I now have an open invitation to come and see him anytime.  I will take him up on that offer…he loves coffee, so next time I stop by it will be with a fresh cup in hand.