Hey everyone,

I decided to write this post after a heartfelt walk I took this afternoon. I met a man named Paul (instantly reminded me of Paul in the bible). Paul asked me for some change. He asked me so softly, I had to ask him what did he say. When I originally saw this man, I made sure to speak and greet him with a smile. I have learned that smiling is free and can brighten up anyone’s day. He was a grey-haired man in a wheel chair. I noticed he was trembling too (mind you it was eighty-something degrees outside feeling like ninety-something so it wasn’t the cold air). Anyway, after I spoke and he spoke back to me, I took a couple of steps and then he asked me for change. I asked him what did he say and he repeated himself. I reached into my pockets and gave him a dollar bill (note: I am not mentioning this to brag, follow along and you will see the true meaning to this post). I turned and began to walk away, and then I turned back and asked the man what happened that he is on the streets? He said, what happened, what happened was that I lost my job and they wouldn’t give me my money. I asked him what was it that he used to do, and he replied he used to be an accountant for a factory. The factory went out of business and he took a job driving a forklift to pay his bills. An accident occurred involving his legs in some way and caused him to be out of work. He applied for disability and was denied. So the ending result is a 64-year old man in a wheelchair with no family, no friends, no identification, and no home….oh yeah and no money. I gave him a bag of chips I had purchased and some tea (it was all I had). Man, the smile that came across his face was beautiful. I talked some more to him and found out he originally was from Ghana. He came to the states at 18 years of age. He went to school obtained his degree and blah, blah, blah. He worked, paid taxes, and had deductions being taken out…yet he doesn’t qualify??? I asked him where does he go at night, and he said he sits out in front of the town’s city hall (I’m on a mission trip here in the states, so I am leaving the city’s name nameless. Plus, it’s irrelevant…keep reading for the greater point.) He said he doesn’t know where he will go once it gets cold. He said that he can’t go to the shelters because when He goes there, they turn him away because (check this) HE DOESN’T HAVE ID!

After talking with this man for about 15-20 minutes, I prayed for him and told him I will continue to pray for him. I told him to know that God is watching him and to not lose hope. I told him that even in his situation it could still very well be worse. He could have lost his legs in that forklift incident or even his hands. I told him to count his blessings. To count the little things, because God magnifies the little not the big. I told him my situation as well to let him know that he is not alone. That I too, could be him if God says so JUST LIKE THAT. He accepted all I had to share with him and I walked away.

However, when I walked away, my stomach began to hurt. I wanted to cry. Not because I was wondering why would God do such a thing. I was wondering

HOW CAN THE CHURCH DO SUCH A THING???

The church, meaning us…we are the church. Christ is the head and we are the body. It tells us so in the word. It tells us how to be (Romans 12:3-8, 10-13; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Romans 16:5; Ephesians 1:22-23). Forget WWJD (What Would Jesus Do), the correct question is WHAT DID JESUS DO? Whatever it is that Jesus did that is what we are to do. If we are the church, what does that require of us. To give love, to help, to be of good cheer, to serve, to minister to, to aid, to pray for, to encourage, to rejoice with, to praise God.

BUT WAIT…

If we are the church and it is not the building (as we so foolishly insist upon calling the church, then shouldn’t the building be the house where God lives/dwells? Meaning that this house will have the aroma that should be upon us all. Still lost?

Okay, I feel that if a shelter can tell a man, woman, or child, we can’t take you because you don’t have the requirements to enter into our NON-PROFIT, then the doors of the “church” (the building) should be open at all times. Even if the shelters would take in those they claim to “serve”, at some point they would run out of room. However, the last time I looked, all I see around me are these buildings we call “churches”. If a place has been granted to you to fellowship and praise the Lord, why can’t it take in our brothers and sisters so that they may have somewhere to go when the “goodie goodies” tell them no?

I just feel that if we represent the body and Christ is the head, and you have been ordained as a pastor or minister with a place that can be titled as a MEGA CHURCH, or LITTLE church (that’s a whole nother blog) why can’t the doors remain open? Are you worried with whom will try to steal? I thought it is not our job to worry? Would the stench be too much for you? Hmmm, it shouldn’t you have running water and soap. I just can’t seem to understand it. But I will leave it in prayer.

And for those that want to question me, I have opened up my own doors. Walking On Water Ministries does not have a “church” building, but it is a ministry that loves and reaches out to the community. For me I call the community my brothers and my sisters, I am no different from them. God created us all, and we all deserve a second chance. God has no favorites, so if He does it for one, he will do it for all. However, now I am moving from place to place, so I couldn’t invite Paul into my home, but I did invite him into God’s home today (through my heart). And when God is ready for me to obtain the things he has promised me for WOW, I will leave my doors open so that all men may see the truth and know that He is the way to heaven.

Feel free to comment, any complaints take it to God. What’s in a building? Or should I say what’s in your building (your mind, body, soul, spirit)? If Christ is the head and we are the body, shouldn’t his feet, arms, and hands match what his mouth says (the word)?

Think about it…

Be encouraged. Be inspired. Be who He created you to be.

Love,

Bella Grace

Please feel free to purchase either my children’s book The Adventures of Susie and JJ or my latest book Very Inspirational. Log onto www.walkingonwaterwithgrace.org/shop/books. Thank you in advance. All proceeds will go towards this ministry to continue to do the works that God has given it including establishing a 24/7 safe haven for domestic violence victims.