Lesson for today

Just Checking In
>>>
>>> A priest passing through his church
>>> in the middle of the day,
>>>
>>> Decided to pause by the altar
>>> and see who had come to pray.
>>>
>>> Just then the back door opened,
>>> a man came down the aisle,
>>>
>>> The priest frowned as he saw
>>> the man hadn't shaved in a while.
>>>
>>> His shirt was kind of shabby
>>> and his coat was worn and frayed,
>>>
>>> the man knelt, he bowed his head,
>>> Then rose and walked away.
>>>
>>> In the days that followed,
>>> each noon time came this chap,
>>>
>>> each time he knelt just for a moment,
>>> A lunch pail in his lap
>>>
>>> Well, the priest's suspicions grew,
>>> with robbery a main fear,
>>>
>>> He decided to stop the man and ask him,
>>> "What are you doing here?"
>>>
>>> The old man said, he worked down the road.
>>> Lunch was half an hour.
>>>
>>> Lunchtime was his prayer time,
>>> For finding strength and power
>>>
>>> "I stay only moments, see,
>>> because the factory is so far away;
>>>
>>>
>>> as I kneel here talking to the Lord,
>>> This is kind a what I say:
>>>
>>> "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
>>>
>>> HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
>>>
>>> SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP
>>>
>>> AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
>>>
>>> DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
>>>
>>> BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
>>>
>>> SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM
>>>
>>> CHECKING IN TODAY."
>>>
>>> The priest feeling foolish,
>>> told Jim, that was fine.
>>>
>>> He told the man he was welcome
>>> To come and pray just anytime.
>>>
>>> Time to go, Jim smiled, said "Thanks."
>>> He hurried to the door.
>>>
>>> The priest knelt at the altar,
>>> he'd never done it before.
>>>
>>> His cold heart melted, warmed with love,
>>> and met with Jesus there.
>>> As the tears flowed, in his heart,
>>> he repeated old Jim's prayer:
>>>
>>> "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
>>>
>>> HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
>>>
>>> SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP
>>>
>>> AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
>>>
>>> I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT
>>> I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
>>>
>>> SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY"
>>>
>>> Past noon one day, the priest noticed
>>> that old Jim hadn't come.
>>>
>>> As more days passed without Jim,
>>> he began to worry some.
>>>
>>> At the factory, he asked about him ,
>>> learning he was ill.
>>>
>>> The hospital staff was worried,
>>> But he'd given them a thrill.
>>>
>>> The week that Jim was with them,
>>> Brought changes in the ward.
>>>
>>> His smiles, a joy contagious.
>>> Changed people, were his reward.
>>>
>>> The head nurse couldn't understand
>>> why Jim was so glad,
>>>
>>> when no flowers, calls or cards came,
>>> Not a visitor he had.
>>>
>>> The priest stayed by his bed,
>>> He voiced the nurse's concern:
>>>
>>> No friends came to show they cared.
>>> He had nowhere to turn.
>>>
>>> Looking surprised, old Jim spoke
>>> up and with a winsome smile;
>>>
>>> "the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,
>>> that in here all the while
>>> everyday at noon He's here,
>>> a dear friend of mine, you see,
>>>
>>> He sits right down, takes my hand,
>>> Leans over and says to me:
>>>
>>> "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM,
>>>
>>> HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
>>>
>>> SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP,
>>>
>>> AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.
>>>
>>> ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
>>>
>>> I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY,
>>>
>>> AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS
>>>
>>> CHECKING IN TODAY."
>>>
>>>
>>> If this blesses you, pass it on
>>> Many people will walk in and out of your life,
>>> but only true friends will leave
>>> footprints in your heart.
>>>
>>> May God hold you in the palm of His hand
>>> and Angels watch over you.
>>>
>>> But for those of us who are already His, He not
>>> only holds us in the palm of His hand, but has
>>> engraved our names there, and we are continually
>>> in His sight (Isaiah 49:16)
>>>
>>> This is too good not to share -
>>>
>>> So this is me ... Just Checking IN
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