I got the coolest jacket the other day, for the small clothing bank we have at the cafe. It was black leather with red trim and had a really neat AND1 basketball logo on the back with yellow and orange flames shooting out of the hoop. Truely a coat of many colors. I had somebody in mind immediately to give it to.

There is this young man who has been coming to the cafe since I have been there. I think he is 12 or 13. At first he hardly spoke and very rarely did he ask for anything to eat or drink. He just kind of sat there for awhile and then left. After a few weeks, we began to joke around and eventually became "cafe buds." So when I got this coat I thought of him.

I gave him the coat and said, "If it doesn't fit, you don't have to take it."

And he said, "I know it fits."

I said, "You want to go look in the mirror to see if it looks good?"

He said, "I know it looks good."

I had to laugh out loud as he slung the jacket over his shoulder and struted into the cafe. He was smiling from ear to ear and so was I.

This little episode made me think of the story of Joseph and the coat his father, who loved him very much, had made for him. Joseph had alot of bad things happen to him but through it all he remained close to God. He made "good of the evil done to him" (Gen. 50:20) and God richly blessed his life.

Just as Joseph's father loved his son, so too our heavenly Father loves us and through that love we love others. I pray that if and when bad things happen to this young man he remembers his coat of many colors, given to him with love, and he too make good of the evil. May God bless his life.

I Love This Place,

See you Tuesday's 3-6

Paula Browand

(The Medina cafe is becoming CUPS CAFE. This story is also posted at www.cupscafe.org If you're subscribed to our feed here you may want to check out our new website and subscribe there because we will no longer be Medina Cafe 41:11. Thank you for following and praying for our ministry.)

Home is where you hang your memories, rest your head and open your heart. Home is where you have peace, joy, laughter, tears and love. My home away from home is the cafe.

As I think of the time I have put in at the cafe, a smile comes to my face. I have had the privilege to serve, listen, laugh, cry, and pray with the young and the old. I feel totally at home and can't wait to get there and see what God has to offer for the day.

As each person walks through the door, I look up and my face lights-up and I say, "Hello!"

These people are becoming my friends...my family. I am getting to know them better and better each week. I look forward to their arrival. The more the better!

The Lord is moving in ways I never dreamed of, not only in their lives but in mine as well.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...AWAY FROM HOME!!

I Love This Place!

See You Tuesday's 3-6,

Paula Browand

Our date night got canceled (bummer). Mollie was set to go out with a friend Friday night. It was payday for Mindee (and we rarely get alone time) so we made plans to eat out and then cuddle at home. Well...Mollie's friend got sick and so date night was date night with Mollie. We still had fun. We went to Rockne's. They have my favorite burger: the Max the knife. It's no slouch when it comes to burgers.

I've discovered something about myself. I laugh (more like giggle) at great food. Its smell, appearance, taste, makes me chuckle like St. Nick on Christmas eve. My first realization of this personal quirk happened while at the cafe. Ron (a.k.a. The Hot Dog man) served me his famous Coney dog. Oh man...it was dee-lish and I laughed with every fork-full.

The Max the Knife arrived at our table and I started laughing. It was SOOO amazing! HA HA!

The three of us bowed our heads and I prayed, "Thank you Father for this food and this moment to be together as a family. We thank you for your great provision and love for us. We pray for Mollie's friend and ask that you would act so that she would begin to feel better and recover quickly. We praise you for all you're doing in our lives and give you thanks for our faith in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen."

I grab my burger and Mindee says, "How are you going to eat that thing?"

Mollie laughs as I say, "With my mouth."

And I chomped away laughing. Max the Knife oozed down my beard. It rocked!

Moments later, a woman in the booth behind us stood and walked over to us. We didn't know her and she didn't know us. She placed a small folded piece of paper on our table and looked at us asking, "I couldn't help but hear you praying. Would you pray for my family?"

"I would be honored to." I replied. And she left.

We looked at each other in amazement, and I reached for the note and unfolded it. It was a request for her adult children who are in a great spiritual struggle. The handwritten note read, "Pray for God's will, stop the devil from all the attacks. Please pray for us. Thank you."

So I prayed...after eating my burger of course. But I still prayed. I took her request before my King and asked Him to act.

I'm noticing something else as I reflect on my day-to-day life. People are asking me to pray for them...more and more. People I know and perfect strangers. They'll just walk up to me and ask me to pray. Does this happen to you? It's strange. It's a good strange. It's truly an honor to pray.

I have a request. Here is my folded, handwritten note placed on the table of your heart. Ask God to pour out spiritual and emotional blessings on me and Mindee as we grow together in our faith. Ask God to give our family wisdom so we can faithfully guide and lead people to Jesus Christ through the cafe ministry He has placed in our care.

P.S. This e-News Article is also published on the new CUPS / CAFE website. We encourage you to visit it and nose around. Click>> www.cupscafe.org