JOSHUA TIME 440

Old one, but a good one.> > Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She> picked it up and 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 the letter:>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Dear Ruth:>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> I`m going to be in your neighborhood> Saturday afternoon and I'd like to > stop by for a visit.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Love Always,>>> >>>> >> Jesus>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on> the table.>> "Why>>> >>>> >> would the Lord 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 my goodness, I really don't> have anything>> to>>> >>>> >> offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy> something for dinner.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> She reached for her purse and counted out its> contents. Five dollars>>> >>>> >> and forty cents. Well, I can get some 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 of> milk...leaving Ruth>>> >>>>with>>> >>>> >> grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her> meager>> offerings>>> >>>> >> tucked under her arm.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Hey lady, can you help us,lady?">>> >>>> >> Ruth had been so absorbed in her> dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed> two figures huddled in the alleyway.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> A man and a woman, both of them> dressed in little more than rags.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya> know, and my wife and I have been> living out here on the street, and,> well, now it's getting cold and we're> getting kinda hungry and, well, if you> could help us. Lady, we'd really> appreciate it.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Ruth looked at them both.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> They were dirty, they smelled bad and> frankly, she was certain that they> could 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 few cold cuts and some> bread, and>> I'm>>> >>>> >> having an important guest for dinner> tonight 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 back into > 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 after them.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "Look, why don't you take this food.>>> >>>> >> I'll figure out something else to> serve 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> was shivering.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "You know, I've got another coat at home.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Here, why don't you take this one.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped> it over the woman's shoulders.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Then smiling, she turned and walked> back to the>>> >>>> >> street...without her 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 offer Him.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> She fumbled through her purse for the> door key. But as she did, she noticed > another envelope in her mailbox.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> "That's odd. The mailman doesn't> usually come twice in one day.">>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Dear Ruth:>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> It was so good to see you again.>>> >>>> >> Thank you for the lovely meal.>>> >>>> >> And thank you, too, for the beautiful> coat.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> Love Always,>>> >>>> >> Jesus>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> The air was still cold, but even> without her coat, Ruth no longer> noticed.>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >> If you love Jesus, send this to ten> people. Do not keep this message.> >