HOSPITALITY

BUT I’M TOO BUSY, TIRED, OLD…WHATEVER.
Ref: Luke 1

“Zechariah, I am too old for this! My feet ache, my back aches, even my aches ache. And I’m tired, so tired. Plus, I haven’t got everything ready for this kid.” Zechariah, of course, said nothing. He still had three months to go before “his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak, praising God.”

Of course, I’m referring to Elizabeth & Zechariah, the parents of John (who became the Baptizer.) I don’t know for sure if Elizabeth complained about being pregnant, old, achy, tired and busy, but I do know that I probably would have. And maybe you would have, too. Sometimes life is like that.

But then Mary shows up.
Mary – who is young, scared and a virgin mother;
Mary – who tells Zechariah and Elizabeth a tale of a shining angel and the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge that there is new life growing in her womb;
Mary – carrying NEW LIFE for every person who ever believed in the coming Messiah and who would ever believe in a Savior.

Elizabeth’s aches were set aside, her husband’s silence forgotten, her seclusion ended – the only reminder of her own situation was when “the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” She began at that moment to minister to her niece. Elizabeth pronounced blessings on Mary; she rejoiced, encouraged, and affirmed Mary. They glorified God together.

And Elizabeth let Mary stay a while, resting and marveling at the wonder of God. Sometimes, God calls us to let go of ourselves long enough to hold someone else.

So, even if you don’t wear diamonds to do the dusting (tables or cakes) or you’re your life isn’t perfect (whose life is?) you can still practice hospitality – give what you can, reach out, and value others.

That’s really what hospitality is all about.

HOSPITALITY

BUT I CAN’T INVITE PEOPLE TO MY HOUSE
Ref: 1 Samuel 25

Remember Abigail? “Intelligent and beautiful, but her husband [Nabal] was surly and mean in his dealings.”

When David’s men came to him and asked for provisions, Nabal was insulting, stingy and just plain rude.

“One of the servants told Abigail: “David sent messengers from the desert to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. Yet these men were good to us…the whole time we were out in the fields near them…they were a [protective] wall around us all the time we were herding our sheep.” Abigail lost no time. She took [food and drink] and loaded them on donkeys.” Then she went to meet David herself.

There’s a lot more to the story than this, but the point here is that sometimes you have to show hospitality away from your own home. There may be some circumstance in your family that doesn’t allow you to have others come in, but you can always reach out. It can be as easy as sharing a table with other shoppers at the Costco cafeteria or helping a little kid reach the drinking fountain.

Now you may not end up being the king’s next wife, but God will honor your efforts at hospitality by blessing you.

HOSPITALITY

BUT I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH Ref: 1 Kings 17

When she looked in her cupboards, they were bare except for ‘handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug.’

When Elijah asked her for a little water and a piece of bread, the Sidonian widow was afraid to share the last of her food. She needed it to feed her son the last meal she thought she’d ever feed him. There was no hope for more – the entire country was being consumed by drought and famine.

She voiced her fears to Elijah, who said, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and you son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’” She went away and did as Elijah told her. There was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

When we say, “But I don’t have enough,” God says, “That’s okay, use it what you have and I’ll supply all you need.”

HOSPITALITY

Okay, I admit it! I’m not the Suzy Homemaker type. I barely know the difference between a colander and a custard. Did you know that dusting can mean putting something on something OR taking something off something? You dust the coffee table – you dust the coffee cake. No wonder I’m confused.

I don’t really have any excuses for not being more domestic, either. We live in a world where appliances do all the hard work for us. The grocery store has food – it’s not like we have to plant and harvest it ourselves. I just don’t really enjoy it very much. I love the results, but getting there is not fun for me.

However, my friends still hang out at my house occasionally; my kids (when they lived at home as teens) invited their friends over and nobody got sick; and I’ve even been known to host an occasional Tupperware® party. I guess I’m somewhat hospitable, but I’m sure there’s room for improvement.

Hospitality is important to God. After all, He’s in heaven preparing a home and a banquet for us. He wants us to practice hospitality here as well. Romans 12:13b says it plainly: “Practice hospitality.” Over the next three days, I want to introduce you to three women who were hospitable in ttheir own ways.

Bible Reading Challenge

Yesterday I met with three of my girlfriends to touch base and pray. We talked about the changes we'd like to see in our spiritual lives in 2011. One thing we all mentioned is that we'd like to be reading our Bibles more.

Excuses I've heard - and used myself - for not reading the Bible:
I don't have time - my schedule is too busy.
I need sleep - my body and mind is too tired.
I don't understand what I read - the Bible is too
complicated.

The word of God changes us. I was a christian for over 12 years before I started reading my Bible regularly. It wasn't until that time that I started to really understand who Jesus is and how He loves me. I learned that I must not let the "tyranny of the urgent" crowd out what is really important.

The priorities of life become clearer and I was able to let go of the assumptions, expectations and obligations that really weren't worth my time and effort.

Rest and refreshing came when I spent time reading and meditating on the Bible. I slept better and became a more cheerful and positive person. Even if this was the only benefit, it was worth it.

The more I read the Bible, the more I was able to make connections between the Old and New Testaments. I learned to understand and apply the principles outlined there. It became less complicated and more cohesive. I came to understand how important context is and how the contradictions I thought I saw weren't really contradictions at all. I also learned that Jesus loves me unconditionally, and without restraint. His promises are for me.

AND...they are for you. But you won't know what they are unless you read your Bible regularly.

A Challenge: Read Your Bible Every Day For A Month
(Get a translation you understand. I use the New International Version (NIV))

Go to www.heartlight.org for a Bible Reading Plan. I suggest choosing a New Testament one to start.

Keep a notebook with your insights, thoughts and questions. I'd like to know what changes occur after reading every day for one month and I'd like to know if you plan to keep reading.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Today I choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He is my God, my King, my Lord, my

Savior, my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer, my Friend, my Brother, my Husband, my Father, my Peace, my Hope, my Joy...He is EVERYTHING to me!

I am so very, very grateful for His grace and mercy. For His choice to come to earth and make Himself subject to my situation (human-ness), so that eventually I can be 'subject' to His situation (heaven.) For His sacrifice (death on the cross) for me so I can sacrifice for Him (give my life.) For His good plans for me, for a hope and a future. He has made the way. I declare today that I trust Him with my life, my heart, my family and friends.

Mere words cannot express my love for Him. My heart is full.

Thank you, My Jesus, for loving me so. It's amazing and wonderful and more than I could ever express in human words. I love you, My Jesus.

My Favorite Worship Song

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.