Saturday, February 18, 2023

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!





Wednesday, November 4, 2020

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!





 

A Picnic


 ......Less humidity and cooler temperatures are ahead.

 What a great time of year to plan a Biblical hospitality event with a picnic!

Whether you prefer a state park or have a back yard, live near the beach or have the mountains as your backdrop, a relaxed picnic will provide a creative way to show kindness and share the love of Christ with others. 
Perhaps you might consider inviting single moms, a new couple you have recently met, a young college student away from home, believers and un-believers......the variables are endless. 
                                                                            

When our future appears uncertain and at times look bleak,
 you can offer hospitality, hope, share love, encourage others
 and most importantly, introduce Jesus.  

He is our steadfast anchor!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Jesus Made Breakfast

Luke 24 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Has Risen

24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations,beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.



Luke 24:30
Notice: 
When Jesus rose from the dead 
He did not make a grand speech or even perform miracles. 
He sat down to the table 


and broke bread with his friends.

He made them breakfast.                                        (verse 30)