DAY 1
So, today I went into store number 1 and there were several men in the store and I went to the counter and as I was paying for my diet pepsi, I gave the woman in front of me $2.00 and said would you please pay for that Gentlemen behind me soft drink. She said, "oh, ok." As I was leaving she told him that the preacher there wanted to pay for your drink. He said this, "why would a preacher pay for my soft drink when I work for Budweiser?"
I guess I know why today I had to buy his soft drink. Day 1 of 30 days giving away $2.00 was a success. I wonder what day 2 will bring.
I guess I know why today I had to buy his soft drink. Day 1 of 30 days giving away $2.00 was a success. I wonder what day 2 will bring.
DAY 2
I went to my favorite watering hole (notice the western tone), and scoured the place. (notice the word scoured, like I was a detective looking for my criminal). Well, anyway, I went to buy my a nice Diet Pepsi with crushed Ice. I noticed one woman getting her drink and without hesitation, the lady behind the counter said, I can check you out over here. She told me my total and I asked her to charge me for two. Then, it hit me. My scouring paid off. There was that lady I had seen earlier. I said, no wait, I wish to pay for hers. You see, I am the Pastor of the Assembly of God Church up the road and for the next 30 days I wish to purchase a total stranger a soft drink. So, would you tell her that hers has been paid in full. Well, let me tell you what happened next. Absolutely nothing! Nothing happened. No thank you, no mention of it, nothing. Not one word of thanks or gratitude. Not one word....Wait a minute. Why am I doing this? Am I doing this for my pleasure or for God's pleasure? I'm an idiot. I allowed the devil for just one second to creep up and mess with my mind. Shame on me. Yesterday I heard the man ask why I was doing it, so I assumed and when I was in the Navy, they never told us to assume b/c, well just assume you know what assume means. Back to my point. I don't want any recognition for doing this. That woman I bought this soft drink and it was a large root beer by the way, could have been going through a tough time and needed a drink. The person behind the counter could have been going through a tough time and needed to see people doing nice things. And it could be for none of those reasons other that God said to do it. The Word of God says to obey is better than sacrifice. So, today I encourage you to find someone and invest $2.00 of your money and buy them a soft drink or cup of coffee, or if you have no money to invest, then just invest some time with them. Go to your favorite watering hole and hang out with a total stranger that is sitting by themselves. Go to the hospital or nursing home. If you can't leave your house, get on the phone. Just this morning while waiting for my computer to restart for that thing Microsoft does every now and then, I called/text 7 people and said I pray you have a great day today in Jesus. Do something for someone else today and watch or not watch their face and see that if God tells you to do it, then something good will come from it.
DAY 2.5
This one is so funny, I hesitated about placing it here. My passion it seems like in the last few months has been to give away my money. Now, don't start calling me. You ain't getting it. I want to give away what God has given me. So, I am being a good steward with what God has blessed us with, but yet sensitive to the needs of people around me. Debra and I went into the Dollar General stored to buy a present for a girl in our church who just had her tonsils removed Wednesday morning. While there, I saw this elderly woman who was in her late 80's walking with a cane and the hand of what I was assuming was her child, who was up in years as well. We smiled and I nodded my head toward her and smiled. She smiled back. Her teeth were frail alongside her body. She was clean in appearance and she just looked so tired. Her daughter was up at the counter and she had three items left on the counter when Debra and I walked up to the counter to place our $5.00 worth of products for this girl. The Lord instantly moved upon my heart to pay for her items. I knew she had around $25.00 worth, but not exactly how much. I said, "Mam, I would like for you to allow me to pay for your purchase please." She said, "oh my, what for?" I said, well, mam, I just don't know what for. I just know that God said to do it, and I am going to do it if you will allow me the honor to be your servant." She then said, "oh my, thank you so much." Then her eyes welled up with tears as she turned to her mother(I assume) and told her and this is why I feel that Lord wanted me to do it. The 80 plus year old lady was the recipient of the products, not the younger one. You know what the majority of the products were? Cat food. Cat food, juice, and some crackers. Now, why am I telling you this? I bought thirty something dollars worth of cat food. Then it hit me. I was able to help a cat, and I absolutely loathe, despise, distaste, have no use for cats. Do you know that I honestly hate cats. Just so you would know that. But, anyway, I bought cat food. Now, once again, no fan fare, but the woman behind the counter said, "oh, that was nice of you, why did you do that." Well mam, I replied, "I don't know other than that the Lord wants me to do this, and I have to do it." She then said, "where do you go to church?" I told her and that is not the point of this my friends. The point is that if God tells you to do something, then do it. It doesn't matter if you buy cat food or food. Just buy the stuff and give God the glory. Now, this precious social security drawing woman can spend $32.47 on food now for herself.
I think tomorrow I will buy someone else a soft drink and try and make their day and find out their story. Why don't you try doing something nice to a total stranger tomorrow and see what happens.
DAY 3
Early this morning I entered my local diet Pepsi spot and scoured the place for a stranger. There were around 7 men sitting around the table and one of them I knew. I figured, I might have to postpone this adventure until another time. So, I went to the drink machine and filled up my $1.07 diet Pepsi and went to the counter. I was torn on what should happen next. No one was near me. I said to myself in a matter of a few seconds that I would leave $2.00 with the young lady behind the counter and ask her to pay for the next person that came up. Then I said, no, that defeats the purpose of me buying a total stranger one. So, I resolved to wait until later on in the day, when the young lady said, "will that be all?" I was about to say yes, when I saw out of the corner of my right eye a bright shining Mountain Dew flop down on the counter. I wanted to shout. I said, "no mam, I wish to pay for this Mountain Dew." The man, said, "no way." I said, and check this out. It was funny. "yes way." He said, "why?" "Well," I replied, "it is such a beautiful day outside not to help someone I don't know." I received my change back and said "sir, I pray you have a blessed day today." He said, "wow, thank-you sir." That was it. Nothing else was said. No mention of inviting to church. No nothing. I like the concept of giving God's money away(thanks C.T. for reminding me that it is God's money and not mine), and watching people being touched. I think if Jesus was around, he would purchase a total stranger a soda. Try it today and see the reaction on their face and bless someone else that you don't know.
DAY 4
Today is Sunday and I thought I was going to be in a pickle in my quest to help one person each day. However, I went back the second time to my spot and two gentlemen were sitting down. I went to my machine and filled up my cup with Diet Pepsi and while I was walking to the counter a tan color van pulled up. A middle age woman walked in and went straight to the drink machine. I had just paid for my two drinks and while I was watching her fill up her cup, I told the young lady behind the counter to let me pay for hers. The woman walked up and the counter person said, "do you need anything else?" The lady replied with, "no, this is all." The counter lady said, "have a good day, it is paid for." "what?" the counter lady said, "this man paid for it." She said, "thank you and why?" All with a smile, I patted her on her shoulder and said "just because I can do it to someone I have never met before, and you be blessed today." I invested $1.09 today and made a smile on their face. Man, this giving away God's money is a hoot! Try it tomorrow.
DAY 5
What a great day in the Lord. I went to my spot and there he was. Sitting all by himself drinking his coffee. I went to the counter lady and said, please give him a refill on me. She said, that is great! I walked past the man and smiled and nodded my head at him. Nothing fancy. Just to show a friendly face to a lone man sitting all by himself. What was he thinking? Does he have kids that live away from him? Do they come and visit him? Is this coffee break a chance to just talk to someone? I don't know. I probably should have walked over and introduced myself, but I didn't. Sometimes we question God on what we should or should not do. Why do we do that? Then the enemy makes you doubt and then you get depressed and the list goes on. Just be obedient to God and go for him. He will guide you. So, one old man gets a refill. What a great Day!
I decided to stop this afternoon at another place. I felt impressed to buy someone else a soft drink. I went to the cashier and said, "let me pay for this man's drink." He said, "well thank you sir." I said, "no problem. It is just a great day to buy a drink for someone that I have never met before." I walked out. I went to the truck and said to the man I was with, "hey, I just bought him a drink." He replied, "oh, that is ?" Don't want to mention names. Well, UPDATE, UPDATE, UPDATE: Two days later, at work this man told me that the man I bought the drink for that he knew said this to another man at this man's work. "You know something, (so and so), I just don't think I can believe anything negative you are saying against (so and so's) pastor, b/c he bought me a pop." The other man, just dropped his head and looked down. Isn't God good? A lost man preaching to another lost man. God is great!
DAY 6
Nothing, absolutely nothing happened with my buying a soft drink for a total stranger. Well, something happened and it wasn't what I wanted to happen. You see, when I started this journey 6 days ago, I was hoping for something to dramatically happen to someone. Well, I think that when we start the walk with God, we should not expect something dramatic to happen. We should just be obedient to Him, regardless of what happens. Well, I saw the man at the drink machine and when one cashier walked by me, I gave her two dollars and said, would you please pay for his and not tell who did it. She said, "ah, that is nice of you." I said, "na, just doing what I am suppose to do." Well, the man came up with his soft drink and then he bought a breakfast sandwich. She said, someone paid for your drink and so the price for your breakfast is so and so. He said, "really, well in that case, give me two of those tickets over there for this price($2.00). The same amount I gave her. She walked over and pulled two of those lottery type tickets. Man, did I just purchase some lottery type tickets? Why? (No matter how crazy things may look to those on the outside looking in...... Being obedient to GOD's will is what makes things of substance happen. ...) Our job is to be obedient to God regardless of what happens after the thought or act. If God tells you to do something, then do it.
I didn't buy a man a lottery ticket. I bought a man a soft drink. I did what God said to do. I fulfilled my task and this man will never know who bought it. Does it matter that people know when you do something nice to them? To this day, my wife and I don't know who bought us a washing machine back in 1993 when ours went bad. All of a sudden, one was placed on our front door of the parsonage. Do we know why they did it? Nope, we just know we needed one and God provided b/c someone or several people were obedient to Him and did what He said to do. Be nice to someone today and stay away from Negative people.
DAY 7
Day 7 was just like any other day. Nothing dramatic to write about. However, this day proved itself to be interesting in some ways, in that I cannot post it on Facebook, b/c I am taking a Facebook fast until the end of July. The negative things that are being posted about our church, etc. is just idiotic. So, I am staying away from it. Anyway, my plan today was simple. To still spend some of God's money to help total strangers without them knowing about it. The first act happened at breakfast. I had a Doctor's appointment(routine blood work) and Debra and I decided to try this new restaurant in Pratt. We did, and we liked it. Well, three men walked in one at a time and sat at the same table. It reminded me of a country song that was written by a Church of God Prophecy son in the late 80's called the old cafe. It was located around the men who came in and drunk their coffee and reminisced about the good old days. When we left, I told the waitress to put their coffee on my bill and please not tell them. She did. Well, we left and I assume she did.
Then I went to my drinking spot to get my Diet Pepsi and there were several people milling around and this one man came in. White hair, dressed in Starch pressed dry cleaners clothes. I got mine and told the cashier to add his to my ticket and please don't tell him I did it. So, I paid for my drink and his and walked out the door. When I opened the door, I heard her say, "sir, that man paid for your drink." Man, I didn't want him to know about it. When I got to my truck he walked out and lifted his Dr. Pepper up to me and nodded his head. I nodded mine back. Then he got into this huge, and I say huge SUV and drove the opposite way of me. That was so much fun.
You know, when you step out on faith and just do what God says to do, it doesn't matter who benefits from it. That man had more money according to what he was driving that most of us have. However, I don't know if that man was getting his last drink and then go do something terrible. All I know is this. If God tells you to buy someone a drink; buy it!
DAY 8
Today is a good day. Any day with Jesus is a good day. I went to get my Diet Pepsi(I should be a spokesperson) and saw the family of 4. Man, woman, two kids. They were buying their drinks and breakfast. Then I saw this lone woman buying a drink. I went to the counter and the lone woman was behind me. The cashier asked, "will there be anything else." I said, "no, thank you." Why not the lone woman Lord I mumbled? Then the other cashier beside me asked the family, "will there be anything else?" He said, "that sandwich." The cashier said, "that will be $13.62." I screamed inside. $1.09 over $13.62. You see, it is easier to give away $1.09 than $13.62 isn't it? When we are dealing with God's money, it isn't the amount. When we are dealing with our money, we wrestle against the amount. When you trust in God and listen to Him, He will guide you in the right path. I walked over to the man/woman and kids and slipped $15.00 on the counter and said, "hey guys, I would like to pay for your breakfast, and God bless." He replied, "wow, thanks sir." Who were these people? Their car showed they were poor people. Their clothes showed they were poor people. How much money do they have to survive on their destination. They were traveling. Normal families stop in a restaurant and eat breakfast. They stopped at a convenience store and got breakfast. They had no money. But, now they do. Be nice to a stranger today. Someone that you know you want ever see again. Someone that can't help you in return. It will do you good.
DAY 9
Went to my spot and seen this man and woman at the counter. They had their drinks and were getting their "biscuit" and other food items from the hot counter. I paid for my drink and gave the woman the money and said, "please use this to pay for their food." They were elated at the least and I heard the woman say, "that man paid for your breakfast." I walked out the door and just smiled. Thank you Jesus that you gave me some money so I can give it away. You are such a great God.
DAY 10
Boring, boring, boring seems to be the trend these last few days. Just walk in, buy me a diet Pepsi and pay for someone else's drink. Nothing spectacular happened. Just did it. I think the Lord is showing me that nothing spectacular has to happen. Just be obedient is the key.
DAY 11
A good day. Went to Pizza Hut with Elisabeth for our last Daddy/Daughter date before she flies back to Africa. During this time I noticed two teens sitting over there in another booth. When we got up to check out, they got up. The server was busy, and both Elisabeth and the other young lady were either in the restroom or beside the restroom. I was speaking with the young man. "What grade you in?" He replied, "I'm in the 10th grade in Kiowa." Well, then the conversation went to the meeting I had yesterday with Travis Dumond and Luke MacKinney in Kiowa about us doing something with both Medicine Lodge and Kiowa High Schools. I shared that with him and invited him and her to our youth program on Wednesday night. Then the server came up and I said, "let me pay for mine and their meal please." He said, "no you don't!" Well, I won. What a great day. Had the honor and I say honor to buy a young man and ?(sister, friend, cousin, girlfriend) a Pizza Hut lunch. Man, this spending God's money is a hoot! Try it tomorrow my friends and see what happens.
DAY 12
This was a very unique day. I stopped the garbage truck and asked the driver what kind of soft drinks him and the other man like. "Pepsi is what I like and he likes Mountain Dew." I said, "look on my garbage can when you come by and you will have you one." This is one that I have always wanted to do since my arrival into Medicine Lodge. These two men pick up my garbage each week. They are heroes!
DAY 13
Nothing again. Just plain ole buying a drink and that was it.
DAY 14
This was a good day. I met this man who was an overgrown hippie. He was old, and I use the term hippie with all due respect. He was dressed the part. A brother in Christ walked in the store with me today and this "overgrown"hippie was buying some ice and his soft drink. I told the person behind the counter to let me pay for mine, my Christian Brother and that man's drink and ice. I pointed to the man. I said, please tell him "God bless and have a great day." The Christian Brother and I walked out the door to never see him again. I pray he was blessed.
DAY 15
This visit today was kind of special to me. I saw a woman at my drinking hole and she had a purse that I instantly recognized as from Africa. So, needless to say, I struck up a conversation. Her mother had went over there and did some missions work. Therefore, this grown woman got a purse for her trouble. So, I purchased her pop for her. She was blessed.
DAY 16
A good day today. I saw a motorcycle pull in and and a man/woman walked in the store. They were decked out in their black leather with head band and all. They looked rough and I am being nice about it. I questioned my next moved, but I am glad I was sensitive to the Lord's move upon this scene. I went up to them and said, "where you guys from?" Man, I thought that man was going to rip my heart out with his stare. His woman was just as bad. But, then, he smiled and said, "hey man, we are just across the Oklahoma line. How about you?" Now, I didn't expect that coming from him. Why? His appearance deceived me. He looked rough. Now, after purchasing their water and chips, we walked outside and I found out they were in a Christian Bikers Association. What a hoot! If I had gone by looks, I would have missed a blessing. I'm telling you, that spending God's money is so much fun.
DAY 17
This was another day that was special. I saw this elderly man hobble up to the counter. He had to be 80 plus years old. He had his coffee cup and newspaper. I told the clerk to let me purchase his coffee and paper. She leaned over and said, "sir, that man is buying your coffee and paper." He replied, "I have money." I replied, "I know sir, but it is such a beautiful day to buy a stranger a cup of coffee. You be blessed." He smiled and said "thank you." A great day.
DAY 18
This day was also good. Bought a stranger a large pop. He smiled and walked out and said thanks so much, that was nice. It was a good day to have money to help a stranger. Try it tomorrow my friends and watch someone smile.
DAY 19
This day ended up as nothing until the night. We went to our favorite restaurant and ate supper. As I was walking to pay for our meal, I stopped by this table and grabbed the ticket of the man that was sitting there. I knew the other two Gentlemen, but not this one. He said, "what are you doing?" I replied, "I would like to buy your meal tonight." He replied, "why?" I replied, "it is such a beautiful night not to buy a stranger a meal." He said, "what is your name?" I replied and told him. He shook my hand. Then he inquired a religious question to the people that were with us. A great day. Buy a meal and share Jesus. Outstanding. UPDATE: THIS MAN CAME TO OUR CHURCH ON SUNDAY THE 22ND OF AUGUST FOR THE A.M. SERVICE. PRAISE THE LORD
DAY 20
Debra and I went back to the Grill today for lunch. I was about to get up and this man had his back to me. I walked by and grabbed his ticket and said, "excuse me sir, but, I would love to buy your lunch." He replied, "no, I can do that." I replied, "I know, but I want to. You have a great day." We paid for it and he walked up the counter and said, "thank you friend." I said, "no, thank you friend." Thank you for allowing me the pleasure to bless you, and God bless you." He smiled and walked out the door. I wonder who he was?
DAY 21
Nothing normal happen today. I purchased a pop for a young lady today. Nothing fancy. Just bought it and left. God is still good!
DAY 22
I met with someone from the church yesterday at Pizza Hut. I shared this philosophy of purchasing someone a pop or a meal. I told him that I was going to buy that man's lunch. I did. The man walked out and said nothing to me. Do you know why? I told the waitress to put his tab on my tab and not tell him it came from me. Do you know why I think God did it that way? To show that waitress, who probably makes enough to pay for her gas to come to work that people still care. Let's be caring today.
DAY 23
Debra and I went to breakfast. This couple came in and he had this huge Stanley thermos.He was going to get coffee in it. I felt impressed to buy his breakfast. The place was crowded. I walked over and said hello, and then picked up their ticket and said I was going to buy their meal and also pay for his thermos to be filled with coffee. He said, no, I said yes, and God bless and walked away. The men in the restaurant were watching. God is doing something in this town. The devil dislikes that.
Be nice to someone today and buy them a pop(soft drink, soda, coke, coffee, water).
DAY 24
A great day today. I bought this man's drink and told the lady behind the counter to let me pay for his. He was appreciative. Then the Lady behind the counter said this to me. "R U the 1 whose truck was messed with?" I replied, "yes mam, that is me." She said, "well, I need to come to your church since you are preaching the truth." I just smiled. By now the entire store was listening to what I was about to say. I just said this. "Pray for the one(s) that did it so they will be forgiven by God." Some good stuff going on in Medicine Lodge. Be nice today and buy someone something and watch them smile.
Day 25-Day 30 were all the same. Nothing spectacular.
RE-CAP
I invested over $50.00 in my endeavor to show you that God will honor His Word. In return, I was more blessed than what I deserved. However, one man found out who I was and came to the church and donated over $150.00 to the church for our outreach ministry. Yes, my friends, God does honor His Word.
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