Dirty Hands

Jesus was willing to get His hands dirty serving others 

willingly, 

humbly, 

obediently,

 and gladly. 

He expects you to do the same! 

When you do any task that God calls you to do, 

your work, 

no matter how humble 

will become important 

because you’re answering God’s call. 

A Welcoming Life

Norman Rockwell painting
 

Hospitality is not only for dinner guests in our homes. 

Hospitality is a welcoming way of life.

Blessings - "when"

We have such a responsibility!

Isaiah 58 talks about blessings, "when" (action)

we free the oppressed,

 feed the hungry, 

and clothe the naked.

Yes, there are times when the stress of our own lives 

prompt us to feel that it is near impossible to 

reach out and help others. 

We look at circumstances, other people (even church ministries) and think to ourselves, 

"well, if I had their resources I could....." 

In the Book of Matthew Jesus "reminds" His disciples about 

the feeding of the 5,000 

with only five loaves of bread and two fish,

not even enough to feed the disciples themselves. 

Friends, we have everything 

we need to do what God has called us to do. 

We need to give Him what we have 

and allow Him to bless it and provide, 

just as He did with the fish and bread. 

 

HOSPITALITY is not about.....

 

Hospitality is not about impressing people.

Hospitality is not about perfection.

Hospitality is about connecting with people!

LOVE - The Great Commission

 

"The Great Commission" in action......

"Six years ago - a small fish fry in a driveway with 4-5 families....having fun to get to know some of their neighbors. They enjoyed it so much, several other get-togethers were planned to help create a sense of community in the neighborhood. The following year, a larger block party where 75 adults and kids attended...and the parties continued to grow from there. 
They began to see God do something really special!

Common ground was built over shared interests, hopes, and concerns.... a sense of mutual respect and need for one another." 

“It is important to remember that we don’t engage in the needs, dreams, and pains of our communities so that they will become Christians; rather we engage the community because we are Christians. We don’t serve to convert, but we serve because we have been converted". 

 The Art of Neighboring 

An Invitation From Jesus

Jesus’ table calls everyone to come and dine..

to "feast" on who He is 

and learn more about Him through the Word.

 

Jesus invites you to His table. 

When we taste and see that the Lord is good, 

we want to know Him more. 

He satisfies and fills us, but we want more!

“O God, I have tasted your goodness, and it has made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me.” 

A.W. Tozer

"Jesus’ declaration, “I am the Bread of Life” 

takes on a whole new meaning—

one that’s more textured than ever before.

In one statement, Christ makes endless statements:
I am your staple.
I am your sustenance.
I am your nourishment.
I am the extraordinary in your ordinary.
I am your past, present, and future.

In making this declaration, Jesus revealed Himself 

as the seed, the grain, the sacrifice, the offering, the provision. 

In making this declaration, Jesus alludes to God 

the Creator, Sustainer, Life-giver, Provider.

*Jesus didn’t choose to be 

the ganache or the wagu or the truffles of life, 

but a simple, ordinary, common food.

*Jesus didn’t announce Himself as pumpernickel or rye,

 but the “Bread of Life.”

MARGARET FEINBERG

Comments

Encouragement From Scripture

“Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since He who promised is faithful. And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” 

(Hebrews 10:23–25 CSB)

Romans 12:12-13 (MSV)

"Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. 

Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. 

Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality."

"He gives strength to the weary and 

increases the power of the weak."                                                      Isaiah 40:29

When we are weary and tired, mentally and physically, 

we just aren't able to serve others 

in the ways which God desires of us. 

This season, "carve out" times 

in your busy schedule to lay at His feet...

..find rest and relaxation in Him!