STRANGERS

Welcome. I hope my blog is helping you on your faith walk. If you enjoy this, please let your friends know. Although not many people are leaving comments, my daughter, Terri, tells me I have a new friend in Canada. That is what today’s devotional is about -- meeting strangers and learning to know their story.


TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:2


STRANGERS

Do you ever talk to strangers? There are so many interesting stories out there.


Our waiter did an excellent job of serving our lunch, but his story was better than the service. This young man was working in his grandfather's restaurant to make money for tuition. His voice had gained him admittance into Julliard. One day in church, when the congregation was asked to sing out, our children told me, "They don't mean you, Mom." When you have my lack of musical abilities, a young man, who could sing his way into Julliard, definitely leaves an impression.


I cashier at auctions and this gives me an opportunity to meet people from all over the country. When our power goes off for only a short time, I felt inconvenienced, but a couple from Colorado told me about living without electricity. They live higher than the electric lines run and it was fascinating, listening to them as they told about getting their power from a generator and their water from a stream. They had no phone either. How do they survive without telling salespeople they do not need new windows? The spirit of Daniel Boone is still alive.


Strangers come in handy -- especially in a downpour. My mother, sister and I were leaving a restaurant and when we stepped outside, there was an absolute flood in the parking lot. Guess where my car was? Yes, as far away from the door as you could get. My mother informed me it was my car so guess who was going to get wet. Then a lady standing there said, "My husband is coming to pick me up. When he gets here have him take you to your car." You can only imagine how surprised the gentleman looked when this strange lady jumped in his car and said, "Your wife said you would take me to my car over there." He did. Mother -- well she was standing there dry, but her mouth was wide open. She did not believe I would do that.


In today's world, I know we have to be careful, but with every new story I hear, I see the world with new eyes. Not all stories are happy ones, but everyone has a special story to tell and my world is better because I have listened to strangers as I travel my days.


When God sent Jesus to help man, Jesus was a stranger. He came quietly into this world, then told God’s story and Jesus was no longer a stranger.


QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you met a stranger you will never forget? Have you been a stranger to someone? Will they forget you? When you first met Jesus, he was a stranger. Do you know him better now or is he still a stranger?


Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from you heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Jesus, When I first met you, I did not know your story. You were a stranger. But as I read and pray, you become real. I understand your story better. Let your story shine through my life. As I meet strangers, let me listen to their stories with an open heart and an open mind. For once I know their story, they are no longer strangers, they are friends. I especially thank you for .………………………………… Amen