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Love in the Checkout Line

  • A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34 WEB

    If you study Jesus in the gospels, His defining characteristics were love, compassion, grace, and wisdom. He was humble, kind, and He cared for the people. He touched the outcasts, and He ate with the sinners. He is rich in love. He told us to love one another, and by this people would know that we are truly His disciples.

    I once read that patience is not our ability to wait, but our ability to keep a good attitude while we wait. To be slow to anger, loving, gracious, and compassionate, while waiting. Don't feel bad if you fail the patience test, for you are not the only one, I am still working on that one as well. When I am waiting in line, I begin to feel like my life-force is draining away. There are so many things that I need to be doing, instead of waiting.

    One day we went shopping for supplies at Sam's Club during a long juice fast. Now fasting brings pressure that causes hidden things in you to come to the surface like a zit. When we got to the checkout lines, the one on the right had two people in it. One of the men there was buying for a restaurant and he had a long commercial flat cart with supplies stacked up about three feet high, at least 75 items, then there was a cart in front of him, and another cart joined behind him.

    The other checkout line had one elderly lady with three items, so we chose that one and got behind her. Big mistake! By the time we got to the cash register, the restauranteur had completed his purchase, parked his cart, went over to get a hotdog and then sat down to eat it. The next person in his line had already gone through as well. The conversation in our line went something like this:

    Cashier: 'You could save 5 percent if you sign up for our credit card.'

    Lady: 'Oh yes, I have been meaning to get one of those.'

    Cashier: 'Great! Then fill out this form.'

    Lady: 'Ok. Do you have a pen?'

    (Slowly scratches on the paper for a while with the pen.)

    Cashier: 'I see that your membership is going to expire in six months, would you like us to go ahead and renew it?'

    Lady: 'Oh yes, I almost forgot about that. Let's renew it.'

    Cashier: 'We offer an extended warranty on that toaster for $4.99. Would you like to add that on as well?'

    Lady: 'I guess it is better to be safe than sorry.'

    (At this point she turned and smiled at us.)

    Cashier: 'Excellent, just fill out this registration card for me.'

    (More slow scratching on the paper')

    By the end, it took so long that I was struggling to not laugh out loud at the absurdity of the scene. We could have gone to another store, shopped, and been checked out faster than people remaining in that line. We had clearly been chosen for a test. I tried hard to bite my tongue and laugh it off, really hard. I could feel something inside me screaming, but as I refused to react, it slowly died, and then the peace of God came.

    So if you have to stand in a checkout line today, and the cashier is completely incompetent, and the people are digging through their purse for coupons, and that line has not moved in thirty minutes: Try to smile, be kind, be rich in love, and be glad that you are not the one that all of those angry people are looking at. Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

    As a Child of the King, you are carrying the Lord's name with you, wherever you go. People watch you, and your actions speak much louder than your words. Try to live a life that gives glory to God and does not bring disgrace on His family. Do not give His enemies a chance to blaspheme His name as David did (2 Samuel 12:14). Remember that what you feed in your life will grow, and what you starve will die.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for loving me and ask that You help me love others as well. Help me see the big picture. Please walk with me today and help me make the right decisions. Put a guard over my mouth, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!

    Note: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chron 7:14) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network


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20 comments
  • 1
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Praise the Lord Hallelujah...... Amrn
July 31, 2020
  • 2
Deborah Alexander
Deborah Alexander

Great message as always Pastor Todd

July 31, 2020
  • 1
Tracy Carroll
Tracy Carroll

I CANNOT even BEGIN to tell you how friggin HILARIOUS this is to ME!!!!!!!!!!! this situation has happened to me so many times!!!! LMBO

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Evan Force
Evan Force

This message is spot on!  i find myself losing it when I’m on the phone and on hold forever just to be transferred to someone else and repeat the same process.  There have been times I’ve waited so long that I forgot why I was calling.  Then, when someone finally does take my call, I’m completely annoyed with that person.

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Patricia Walker
Patricia Walker

Amen.  I so love to read your testimonials, and how you react to them Pastor.  Thank you. God Bless you and Sylvia. AMEN

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen Father please grant me patience and love towards others.

July 31, 2020
  • 2
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Please Heavenly Father help us with patience.Fill us with your Holy Spirit and let our lives be for you and your glory. Amen 

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

Amen

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen! Thank You Lord!

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Wanda Pennington
Wanda Pennington

Amen!!

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Please give me patience and love, Amen.

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Theresa Bright
Theresa Bright

Thank you Pastor. You always give the best. Thanks for sharing.

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Heavenly Father I thank You for all You have done in our lives, give us the patience to understand that Your love for us we must show it to others instead of being irritated with their actions. In Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen. 

Very true Pastor, we must be at ease on these situations. Thank you and God bless you and Sylvia. 

July 31, 2020
  • 2
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

God I love my family and try to be kind forgive me when I fail. Give me strength and tolerance to help when I can. Praise God Praise Jesus Holy Spirit guide me. Amen

July 31, 2020
  • 1
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann

Amen Father thank you for your love, patience, kindness peace wisdom, understanding self control and for always giving me a way out of the test! I love you

July 31, 2020
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Yes, amen Lord

July 31, 2020
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

July 31, 2020
  • 1
Brenda F
Brenda F

Amen

August 1, 2020
  • 1
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

In Jesus name Amen 

August 2, 2020