Thanks. I've seen this before, but this is one that I don't mind reading 
over and over again.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pat Ferguson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 1:18 PM
Subject: COME AS YOU ARE. NO JACKET REQUIRED


> >COME AS YOU ARE. NO JACKET REQUIRED
>>
>>
>>I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn't be the right place. After all, 
>>I couldn't possibly be
>>welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times,
>>by several different people, and I had finally decided to see what this 
>>place was all about. But,
>>this just couldn't be the right place.
>>
>>Quickly, I glanced down at the invitation that I clutched in my hand. I 
>>scanned past the words,
>>"Come as you are. No jacket required" and found the location.
>>Yes, I was at the right place. I peered through the window again and saw a 
>>room of people whose
>>faces seemed to glow with joy. All were neatly dressed,
>>adorned in fine garments and appeared strangely clean as they dined at 
>>this exquisite restaurant.
>>
>>Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and torn clothing, covered in 
>>stains. I was dirty, in
>>fact, filthy. A foul smell seemed to consume me and I couldn't
>>shake the grime that clung to my body. As I turned around to leave, the 
>>words from the invitation
>>seemed to leap out at me..."Come as you are. No jacket
>>required."
>>
>>I decided to give it a shot. Mustering up every bit of courage I could 
>>find, I opened the door to
>>this restaurant and walked up to a man standing behind
>>a podium. "Your name, sir?" he asked me with a smile.
>>
>>"Jimmy D. Brown," I mumbled without looking up. I thrust my hands deep 
>>into my pockets, hoping to
>>conceal their stains. He didn't seem to notice the filth
>>that I was covered in and he continued, "Very good, sir. A table is 
>>reserved in your name. Would you
>>like to be seated?"
>>
>>I couldn't believe what I heard! A grin broke out on my face and I said, 
>>"Yes, of course!" He lead
>>me to a table and, sure enough, there was a placard with
>>my name written on it in a deep, dark red. As I browsed over a menu, I saw 
>>many delightful items
>>listed. There were things like, "peace," "joy," "blessings,"
>>"confidence," "assurance," "hope," "love," "faith," and "mercy." I 
>>realized that this was no
>>ordinary restaurant! I flipped the menu back to the front
>>in order to see where I was at... "God's Grace," was the name of this 
>>place.
>>
>>The man returned and said, "I recommend the 'Special of the Day'. With it 
>>you are entitled to
>>heaping portions of everything on this menu". You've got to
>>be kidding! I thought to myself. You mean, I can have ALL of this! "What 
>>is the 'Special of the
>>Day'?" I asked with excitement ringing in my voice.
>>
>>"Salvation," was his reply. "I'll take it," I practically cried out. Then, 
>>as quickly as I made that
>>statement, the joy left my body. A sick painful ache
>>jerked through my stomach and tears filled my eyes. Between my sobs I 
>>said... "Mister, look at me.
>>I'm dirty and nasty. I am unclean and unworthy of such
>>things. I'd love to have all of this, but, but, I just can't afford it."
>>
>>Undaunted, the man smiled again. "Sir, your check has already been taken 
>>care of by that Gentleman
>>over there," he said as he pointed to the front of the
>>room. "His name is Jesus."
>>
>>Turning, I saw a man whose very presence seemed to light the room. He was 
>>almost too much to look
>>at. I found myself walking towards Him and in a shaking
>>voice I whispered, "Sir, I'll wash the dishes or sweep the floors or take 
>>out the trash. I'll do
>>anything I can do to repay You for all this."
>>
>>He opened His arms and said with a smile, "Son, all of this is yours if 
>>you just come unto me. Ask
>>me to clean you up and I will. Ask me to allow you to
>>feast at my table and you will eat. Remember, the table is reserved in 
>>your name. All you must do is
>>accept this gift that I offer you."
>>
>>Astonished, I fell at his feet and said, "Please, Jesus. Please clean up 
>>my life. Please change me
>>and sit me at your table and give me this new life."
>>
>>Immediately, I heard the words, "It is finished." I looked down and white 
>>robes adorned my squeaky
>>clean body. Something strange and wonderful had happened.
>>I felt new, like a weight had been lifted and I found myself seated at His 
>>table
>>
>>"The 'Special of the Day' has been served," the Lord said to me. 
>>"Salvation is yours." We sat and
>>talked for a great while and I so enjoyed the time that
>>I spent with Him. He told me, me of all people, that He would like for me 
>>to come back as often as I
>>liked for another helping from God's Grace. He made
>>it clear that He wanted me to spend as much time with Him as possible.
>>
>>As it drew near time for me to go back outside into the "real world," He 
>>whispered to me softly,
>>"And Lo, I am with you always." And then, He said something
>>to me that I will never forget. He said... "My child, do you see these 
>>empty tables throughout this
>>room?" "Yes, Lord. I see them. What do they mean?"
>>I replied. "These are reserved tables...but the individuals whose names 
>>are on each placard have not
>>accepted their invitation to dine. Would you be so
>>kind as to hand out these invitations to those who have not joined us as 
>>yet?" Jesus asked.
>>
>>"Of course," I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations. "Go ye 
>>therefore into all
>>nations," He said as I turned to leave I walked into God's
>>Grace dirty and hungry. Stained in sin. My righteousness as filthy rags. 
>>And Jesus cleaned me up. I
>>walked out a brand new man...robed in white, His righteousness.
>>And so, I'll keep my promise to my Lord. I'll go. I'll spread the Word. 
>>I'll share the Gospel...
>>I'll hand out the invitations.
>>
>>And I'll start with you.
>>
>>Have you been to God's Grace? There's a table reserved in your name, and 
>>here's your invitation...
>>"Come as you are. No jacket required."
>>
>>"For by grace are you saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it 
>>is the gift of God: not of
>>works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2: 8,9