About a month ago, the beginning of January 2006, I was called back to work because a friend of mine had an accident. He had fallen over his stairway railing, in his house. When he fell, he injured his back in six places, and had multiple breaks in four of his ribs. He was the head desktop publisher at work, and I was the only one who could replace him.

When I got to see my friend after he was released from the hospital, he was in a body brace and in horrible shape. He couldn't even bathe himself, and was awaiting in-home care. He had no money and had to pay his rent that month. I brought him some bags of food, and went to talk to him. I decided that when I worked, having taken over his position, that I would give him half of the check money I received from the job. So I told him this. I knew he would be relieved, because really, what could he do? In fact, I don't really think it was enough to help out, considering his position, yet we here at home are also in a bad way, financially.

I am due to work again this Friday. I work there part-time. It is a newspaper I work for. Anyhow, along the way, some folks told me that I should not give my friend any money at all, because of our financial position here at home. I felt in my heart that it was the wrong thing to do. I knew Jesus would want me to help my friend, because he really has no way to turn at this point, and he simply can't help himself.

Yesterday, another friend of mine called me, and he had recently bought himself a new car. He asked me if we wanted the old car he had, a '95 Saturn SSL? I couldn't believe it! I had been praying for a car for years now, and we could never find a way to get enough money to buy one. My friend gave us the car, as a gift. What a blessing this was! We were both so grateful for this gift. We both gave thanks to God for the blessing!

I believe that Jesus blessed us with this car, because I have been helping my friend at work. I am glad now that I did not listen to the people who told me to keep the check to myself. So you see folks, that the Lord our God sees all the things that we do, and I know that Jesus bestowed this blessing upon us, because we in-turn helped others. Our walk with God is one way to show others, especially the unsaved, what it means to believe in Jesus. Sharing our stories with each other, about the experiences we have in the Lord, helps to uplift each other, and to build our faith. With God all things are possible folks!

There were ten men in a village where Jesus was, and they were lepers. When the men saw Jesus, they asked Him to have mercy on them. So, Jesus told them to present themselves to the priests, and along the way, they were cleansed and healed. Out of these ten men that were healed by Jesus, only one man came back to thank Jesus and to glorify God for the healing, and he was a stranger, a Samaritan. Jesus asked this man where the other nine men were, that He had healed? Jesus will always remember this one man who gave thanks to God, and was truly grateful for his healing. (See Luke Ch 17 vs 12-19). We are told to make our requests known to God, through prayer, and with all thanksgiving. So when we make our requests known to God, we should thank Him immediately; knowing that our prayers will be answered, in God's time.(See Philippians Ch 4 vs 6).