JOSHUA TIME 284

Try TO KEEP THIS ONE GOINGRuth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it upand looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again.There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read theletter:Dear Ruth:I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to stopby for a visit.Love Always, JesusHer hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would theLord want to visit me?I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "Oh mygoodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down tothe store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her purse andcounted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. "Well, I can getsome bread and cold cuts, at least."She threw on her coat and hurried out the door.A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton ofmilk..leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday.Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tuckedunder her arm."Hey lady, can you help us, lady?"Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed twofigures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed inlittle more than rags"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been livingout here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're gettingkinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady, we'd really appreciateit."Ruth looked at them both.They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that theycould get some kind of work if they really wanted to."Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a fewcold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinnertonight and I was planning on serving that to Him.""Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway."The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed backinto the alley.As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart."Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley afterthem. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else toserve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag."Thank you lady. Thank you very much!""Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she wasshivering. "You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't youtake this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman'sshoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...withouther coat and with nothing to serve her guest."Thank you lady!Thank you very much!"Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too.The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offe! r Him.She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticedanother envelope in her mailbox."That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day." She tookthe envelope out of the box and opened it.Dear Ruth:It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thankyou, too, for the beautiful coat.Love Always JesusThe air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticedIf you love Jesus, send this to ten people. Do not keep this message. Themantra must leave your hands within 96 hours.You will get a very pleasant surprise.This is true, even if you are not superstitious.Very good things will happen to everyone that touches this story