Restaurant Owner Forgives man who Robbed his Restaurant by Lauren Holter.

The owner of Mr. Seafood posed with the man who robbed his restaurant to send a message about forgiveness. (Photo: Mr.Seafood#1 via Facebook)

The owner of a Columbia, S.C., seafood restaurant sent a powerful message about forgiveness this week when he decided not to press charges against the man who broke into his restaurant.

 

A Facebook post explained that the Mr. Seafood restaurant “got hit” over the weekend and had to close on Sunday. But after neighbors helped identify the man seen stealing from the business in a surveillance video, the owner, Kevin Scott, decided to talk to him before calling the police.

  

“God inspired me,” Scott told Birmingham, Ala.’s WBRC Fox 6 News. “I talked to the guy, and he said he did it to feed his family, and his story didn’t seem dishonest to me. He apologized and offered to work to pay off what he stole, but I don’t want that. I just don’t want him committing crimes.”

 

A few days after the break-in, Scott met the man at the restaurant and later posted a photo of them on Facebook. “Forgiveness is better,” he wrote.

 

Locals praised Scott’s decision not to press charges.

 

“This speaks volumes. Praying for this young man that he finds a better way. Blessings to you for forgiveness,” one person commented.

 

“This is how we should really treat one another, love and sympathy,” another person said. “This could very well be, and I pray it is the turning point in this young mans life to do right and help his fellow human beings. We’ve got to all do our parts individually to make this planet a better place to live.”

Don't be like the Hypocrites.







“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,

for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and

on the street corners to be seen by others.

Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

But when you pray, go into your room,

close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret,

will reward you.  

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans,

for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Do not be like them,

for your Father knows what you need before you ask him".

Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV).

My Prayer Principle.

I am a believer. But I have a very peculiar approach to prayers. I must be one of the very few believers in this world who make the shortest prayers at any point in time. Most often, when I go into a prayer, it’s strictly to express gratitude in two ways. First, I thank God for forgiving me of my sins. Then, I thank God for His bountiful blessings in my life. That’s it! No story and no campaign.

As far as I am concerned, the almighty God is far too omnipotent and supreme to be cajoled or deceived with some crocodile tears. In whatever critical situation I find myself, I accept personal responsibility. I believe it’s the way I lay my bed that I sleep in it. What I sow is what I reap. Therefore, the best I can do while praying, is to be grateful to God instead of pestering Him with a list of requests as if He owes me, after all the sins I commit every day.

The Only Prayer You'll Ever Need.

At the Stanford University's Memorial Church last Monday, Oprah Winfrey was reported to have educated the audience on what it meant to live a meaningful life.



Asking the more than 1,000 members of the audience to close their eyes, the media mogul encouraged them to breathe and feel the pulse of their personal energy.

"Open your heart and quietly to yourself say the only prayer that's ever needed: Thank you, thank you, thank you," she said. "You're still here. You get another chance this day to do better and be better, another chance to become more of who you were created and what you're created to fulfill. Thank you. Amen."

Oprah Winfrey was there to deliver an annual lecture in honor of the late Professor Harry Rathburn, a former faculty member at Stanford Law School. She went on to give students a glimpse of the earliest parts of her spiritual formation, back when she was a child attending Sunday school classes in rural Mississippi.

That’s it! I am in total agreement with Oprah. The only prayer we’ll ever need is a prayer of thanksgiving. All God needs from us is a heart of gratitude. Therefore, there is no point in delivering long speeches to God in the name of prayers. At the end of the day, those verbal epistles rarely contain one word of thanks but a long list of demands.

 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year in Advance!

Yes, I am Blessed!

This is my most favorite book of Psalms, my daily affirmation, spiritual sustenance and song of victory. To God be the glory.

Abide With Me, the Song and the Story.

Abide With Me.

Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847) and his wife Ann were faithful pastors of a little fishing town in Devonshire England, for 23 years. Although Henry's health was compromised, he worked tirelessly ministering to his parish, taking care of his family, and writing poems and hymns. (Click on the link to hear the song).

In 1844, Henry was diagnosed with Tuberculosis. Over the next three years his physical condition deteriorated until finally on September 4, 1847, at the age of 54, he stood in the pulpit for the last time to deliver his farewell message.

That same afternoon, after taking a walk on the beach, Henry retired to his room. He emerged about an hour later with a written copy of Abide With Me. He left soon after for a trip to Italy, to get away from the cold, damp coastal weather. While en route to his destination, he mailed a revised copy of Abide With Me to his wife. A few days later while resting in a hotel on the French Riviera, Henry went home to be with Jesus. A fellow clergyman who was with Henry during his final hours reported that Henry's last words were Peace! Joy!

Abide With Me was put to music by William H. Monk (1823-1889), and made its debut at Henry's memorial service.

The hymn has since been popular within many Christian denominations. It was reported to have been a favorite of King George V, and of Mahatma Gandhi. It was sung at the weddings of King George VI and of Queen Elizabeth II. It is sung before kick off at every FA Cup Final and Rugby League, and at various annual celebrations in Austria, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom. It has been recorded by various jazz and gospel music artists, and has been included in the soundtrack of no less than 10 movies and television shows, including Shane and Touched by an Angel.

As He often does, God took the sad ending of a life and made something lasting and beautiful out of it.

Abide With Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Written by: Connie Ruth Christiansen