beef stew

I instruct a community service helper to brew a pot of Dunkin' Donuts House Blend donated to the cafe. (They say: America runs on Dunkin'. I don't. I think it's kinda' hard to run on a cup of coffee. A person could roll their ankle attempting that. It's dangerous. I run on a track or away from an attacker. But I drink a cup of coffee.)

I sit anxiously waiting for the coffee to ripen and then pour myself a cup. Steam from the coffee tickles my nose as I take the first sip. Its aroma inviting. Its flavor invigorating. Kids pile in the cafe and plop down in our comfy chairs.

"This air-conditioning feels so good," says one teen wiping sweat from his forehead. "It's hot out there."

"I'm glad you like it," I reply. "Would you like something to drink?"

"A kool-aid," he answers.

A few adults pile in the cafe too. I open the Word and share words of encouragement with a dear friend. After that, a man asks me for food from our pantry. We walk downstairs, and he gathers cans of soup, peanut butter, and a can of beef stew. The beef stew was the only one we had. Not a big deal. I'm glad to give it away. It's better than watching it collect dust sitting on a shelf.

About fifteen minutes later, a women walks in with a box of canned goods for the cafe. Her present contains (get this): cans of soup, peanut butter, and four cans of the exact brand of beef stew I just gave away. No joke. I give away one can of beef stew and immediately receive four!

There is an interesting occurrence in Scripture. Paul shares something Jesus said that is not recorded in the Gospels. (All you bible scholars can correct me if I am wrong.) But Paul writes, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'" (NIV, Acts 20:35). It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. This truth applies to many aspects of our lives.

It is more blessed to:

• give love than receive love.
• give money than receive money.
• serve than be served.
• give hope than receive hope.
• give mercy than receive mercy.
• give faith than receive faith.
• feed the hungry than receive food.
• shelter the homeless than receive shelter.
• clothe the naked than receive clothes.
• restore sight to the blind than receive sight.
• restore hearing to the deaf hear than receive hearing.
• heal the sick than receive healing.
• give freedom to captives than receive freedom.
• give life than receive life.
• give a job to the jobless than receive a job.
• give a car ride than receive a car ride.
• give fair fries to a missionary who shall remain nameless than receive fair fries (I had to throw that one in there).
• be a friend than receive a friend.
• be a listening ear than receive a listening ear.
• forgive someone of an offense than receive forgiveness.

Being a child of God is more than simply knowing and believing. He desires that we live what we know; that we act on our belief (1 John 3:18; James 1:22-25, 2:14-26). Dearest friend, step out in faith! Live what you know and what you believe and trust Him for the results.

The cafe rent is due tomorrow and we could use some beef stew. Our "beef stew" is the roughly $80 the cafe needs to pay the bills and stay open. The cafe will be open tonight from 6-9pm. I'll be there, and I'm dropping one can of beef stew ($8) in the donation box trusting my heavenly Father to provide a bunch more "beef stew." It is one way I can put my faith in action. And I believe He'll provide.