[ROLCAM]

Daniel's Gloves

I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were both especially good that day.

As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that read, 'I will work for food.' My heart sank.

I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness and disbelief.

We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square, looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful, knowing that seeing him again would call some response. I drove through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store and got back in my car.

Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: 'Don't go back to the office until you've at least driven once more around the square.'

Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town.. As I turned the square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the store front church, going through his sack.

I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and approached the town's newest visitor.

'Looking for the pastor?' I asked.

'Not really,' he replied, 'just resting.'

'Have you eaten today?'

'Oh, I ate something early this morning.'

'Would you like to have lunch with me?'

'Do you have some work I could do for you?'

'No work,' I replied 'I commute here to work from the city, but I would like to take you to lunch.'


'Sure,' he replied with a smile.

As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions. Where you headed?'

' St. Louis '

'Where you from?'

'Oh, all over; mostly Florida.. '

'How long you been walking?'

'Fourteen years,' came the reply.

I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same restaurant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and articulation that was startling He removed his jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, 'Jesus is The Never Ending Story.'

Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences.. Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had stopped on the beach in Daytona.. He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought.

He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revival services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his life over to God

'Nothing's been the same since,' he said, 'I felt the Lord telling me to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now.. '

'Ever think of stopping?' I asked.

'Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But God has given me this calling. I give out Bibles That's what's in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit leads.'

I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked: 'What's it like?'

'What?' ;

'To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show your sign?'


'Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts of other folks like me.'

My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused He turned to me and said, 'Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in.'

I felt as if we were on holy ground. 'Could you use another Bible?' I asked.

He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite.. 'I've read through it 14 times,' he said.

'I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and see' I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed very grateful.

'Where are you headed from here?' I asked.

'Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park coupon.'
“Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?'

'No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next.. '

He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things.

'Would you sign my autograph book?' he asked.. 'I like to keep messages from folks I meet.'

I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him with a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, 'I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to give you a future and a hope.'

'Thanks, man,' he said. 'I know we just met and we're really just strangers, but I love you.'

'I know,' I said, 'I love you, too.' 'The Lord is good!'

'Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?' I asked.

A long time,' he replied

And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed.. He put his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, 'See you in the New Jerusalem.'

'I'll be there!' was my reply.

He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, 'When you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?'

'You bet,' I shouted back, 'God bless.'

'God bless.' And that was the last I saw of him.

Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them... a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands would stay warm that night without them.

Then I remembered his words: 'If you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?'

Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office... They help me to see the world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. 'See you in the New Jerusalem,' he said. Yes, Daniel, I know I will...

'I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.'

My instructions were to send this to four people that I wanted God to bless and I picked you. Please pass this to four people you want to be blessed.

This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. Please do not break this pattern. Prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another. God bless and have a nice day!

'Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and e-mail buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace, In Jesus' precious Name Amen.'

GOD BLESS YOU, MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!

[arcura]

ROLCAM,
Thanks for posting that.
The message it gives is good, loud and clear.
I got it several days ago from a friend and passed it on to others.
I'm glad that you thought to post it here.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

[ROLCAM]

Dear Fred,

Thanks to you, I thought that at least 4 people would read it here.

Best regards,

Roland.

[ROLCAM]

Dear Fred,

Up to now, I believe 36 have viewed the above contents.

Roland.

[artlady]

Beautiful ! Thank-you for sharing.
What a wonderful message of hope.

[adam7gur]

Thank you for sharing this with us, it is a blessing!
Dear Lord, in the name of Jesus please accomplish whatever it is that You are doing with him!

[redhed35]

Thank you for posting..

[Maggie 3]

Thank you Rolcan for stopping by and
Blessing us.

God's Blessings to you, Maggie 3

[sndbay]

Daniel's Gloves

Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office... They help me to see the world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. 'See you in the New Jerusalem,' he said. Yes, Daniel, I know I will...

A wonderful and touching email story. The sadness is that it takes something tangible such as Daniel gloves, for man to remember what is truly greater in life. Why do we allow ourselves to forget?

Reality for the majority of mankind today, would be to focus and build upon what they see around them. Their education, career, business, car, and home. These things are set as their goals in achievement during their life. And our economy is the example of our wasteful, and spoiled behavior in wanting tangible items that grown old with us, and result in throwing things away. Showing that mankind's desires of heart, can reap nothing more then sorrow, if we allow ourselve to forget.

Oh that we could understand what God has intended for HIS children. To LOVE always, without building something tangible that will sit before them. To love and be loved in joy of pure goodness being felt within the heart. That which the heart holds forever, far greater being LOVE then anything tangible.

Can we find it within ourselves to love one another NOW and FOREVER.

In the spirit of our Lord Jesus name, see the love in your life.



~Grace be with you all

[ChildOfGod_1]

Wonderful! The Lord will bless you!!

[ROLCAM]

UPDATE :-

Dear Fred,

Up to now, I believe 82 have viewed the above contents.

Roland.

[zippit]

Good STORY I thought it was real though

[arcura]

Sndbay,
You asked, " Can we find it within ourselves to love one another NOW and FOREVER?"
I surely do hope so.
The world NEEDS love, peace and kindness.
Look at all the bloody trouble the world is in now and has been fior many centuries.
Fred

[zippit]

I like the story I just wish you would have told us it's a STORY a chain letter,I had a event that was close to this story so I bought into it and I can't stand goofy chain stories

[arcura]

zippit,
I don't understand.
It was not a chaibn letter but and e-mailed story, one that is being sent to and seen by many.
Peace and kindness,
Fred.

[twinkiedooter]

Touching story. It's hard to be homeless by choice or otherwise. It's good to also remember that God feeds the animals and the birds. He can also feed humans even if they don't have homes or regular jobs. You just must believe that God will feed you. Everything else is easy if you just believe.

[sndbay]

Sndbay,
You asked, " Can we find it within ourselves to love one another NOW and FOREVER?"
I surely do hope so.

To LOVE always, without building something tangible that will sit before them.

The world NEEDS love, peace and kindness.
Look at all the bloody trouble the world is in now nd has been fior many centuries.
Fred

Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.


~Grace be with you Fred

[arcura]

sndbay,
The answer to the question I asked, "Can we find it within ourselves to love one another NOW and FOREVER?"
Is, from my point of view, I seriously doubt it.
Why?
Because of man kind's freedom of to think and do as we wish graced to us by God.
Far too many people choose hate and do violence that to practice peace and kindness.
Yes, they do have their our personal reasons for doing so but they are faulty and against natural law.
"Live and let live" is not in their outlook of how to live life.
I think that the only way that the world can come to a world of peace, kindness, love, tolerance and mercy is for Jesus Christ to come too guide and rule us putting and end to war, murder, rape, fraud, corruption, and all the other terrible and nasty things we humans do to each other.
But, as I understand it, that is not what Jesus will return for.
Yes, the bible teaches that there will be 1,000 years of peace, but that is after judgment has taken place.
There will be no chance for the perpetrators of such evil to change and live better lives.
Peace and kindness,
Fred