A Life That Says Welcome

"Entertaining puts the emphasis on you and how you can impress others. Offering hospitality puts the emphasis on others and strives to meet their physical and spiritual needs so that they feel refreshed, not impressed, when they leave your home" ~ Karen Ehman

Karen Ehman is the author of A Life That Says Welcome. It is a book on hospitality - not on entertaining people. This book starts with a biblical definition for practicing hospitality and then take you through the practical implications of God's expectation for His people to be a hospitable people. She argues well the whys - the heart of the matter and then takes you on a practical journey to get you started and keep you going.

Ms. Ehman takes you to 1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. She shows the reader that this is something expected of God's children; it is assumed that we will be sharing our lives and homes with each other and strangers. She will take you through stories in the Bible where hospitality is seen in action, sometimes done well, sometimes not so well.

The author will also take you on the journey with her through her own experiences and growth in the area of hospitality. So if you like good stories about peoples lives, I think you will enjoy reading this book.

She encourages the reader to press on and practice hospitality from Romans 12:13 "contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality." To practice means: "To do or perform habitually; to make a habit of; to exercise or perform repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill." ( Websters Dictionary)

She admonishes us to roll up our sleeves and get to work! She says: "Whether you live in an apartment, a modest home, or a mansion, you are not exempt from our Father's admonition that you show hospitality to His children and those who are yet to be His children. Yes, our being willing to offer hospitality can help people to new life in Christ."


So often we can be told to be hospitable and be given every Biblical and theological reason behind it and be left wondering where to start. Not so with this book. We are given how to start with our family. She encourages us to start small, like sending notes or picking flowers for someone to encourage them.

The book gives us step by step instructions on how to de-clutter and then teaches us to speed clean so that we are always ready for company at any point in time. There are even recipes to make your own cleaning products.

The book is packed with advise and clear instructions on how to prepare for overnight guests. She gives a list of things to keep on hand like, little bottles of shampoo, and soap, and nice lotions, guest towels, and shaving cream; etc.

Recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinners, and desserts are also supplied in this book.

After reading this book, I was encouraged to grow in contentment realizing that being content with what God has given me will manifest itself in sharing it no matter how great or small. The flame of passion for practicing hospitality was fanned and I felt encouraged to press on and do it all the more and improve. I came out hopeful that over time my skills in showing hospitality will grow. I came out being reminded that if you yourself are kind and put on the apron of a servant, lend a listening ear, and care for the concerns and needs of those around you, it does not matter what condition your physical home is in, whether you have changed your decor to meet the demands of the changing culture ( you will read a story of a woman who hadn't changed a thing in her house for 20 years and yet people loved to be with her in her home), it won't matter if you wear the right clothes, have the biggest space, a new table, or are even the best cook. If you yourself are welcoming, people will feel welcome and overlook any imperfections in your home, cooking, or appearance.

I think this book is helpful for any season of life and every hospitality skill level. I would highly recommend it as a group study as well, because it may give opportunity to encourage one another in this area.

So read this book and roll up your sleeves and get to work, because after reading this you will have no excuses, you will know where to start and how to continue on.

** Details will be coming soon about an online book discussion using this book.

Work

I found an interesting verse today as I was reading the Psalms.

It was Psalm 104:14 " He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the labor of man, so that he may bring forth food from the earth"

Its interesting that God says that He causes vegetation to grow for the labor of man. He could have just fed us Himself but, He wants us to work for it.

I have seen a change in the "world's" attitude about work over the past few years. My parent's generation believed that it was good to work to provide for their needs and the needs of their families. Today, I see people looking to the government to provide for their needs. I'm all for helping people truly in need and I think it is a good way for believers to show and talk to people about Jesus but, it seems that an increasing number of people have voluntarily decided to not work to provide for themselves and instead happily rely on the ever increasing social entitlements.

I think that God blesses us through work. Reading and understanding the Bible is one good example.

I also think that this concept dovetails with Pastor Matt's sermon series on self-control. We are not to let our desire for leisure and comfort dictate our lives. Instead we need to be out doing what God wants us to do no matter what it is. I also think that as the 2nd coming of Christ gets nearer every day that passes, it is urgent that we tell others about salvation by faith through Christ and live our lives as a witness to those around us.

Hello Everybody!

Hello everybody! It has been a while since I last sat at the computer and let my fingers go wild on the keyboard typing away thoughts, quotes, family news, or books reviews. My fellow bloggers were very gracious and allowed for me to take a nice long break. Life has been filled with....well....life. Go figure. Five kids, a husband, Bible study, tears and laughter over coffee, late night talks with wonderful friends whom I care deeply about, walks around the lake, hurting after Tuesday night Hip Hop class, planning for the school year, organizing the house, praying earnestly for God's provision and for our future - it's been quite the summer.

I have not accomplished even half of what I desired to this summer, but good has come of it none the less.

Not as much baseball has been played in the yard as in summers past because the mosquitoes have done their best to chase us back in the house day or night, but the weather has improved as of late and we are trying to make up for lost time.


Some young ladies I had been meeting with individually came together as one group and we have learned much about one another and a deep affection has formed between us as we look at the word together and talk about our lives. I count this summer as being one of the most blessed because of what God is doing through and teaching me in these particular relationships.

I believe firmly that I am benefiting from taking a closer look at Ephesians as a few of us are going through a study called: By His Wounds You Are Healed by Wendy Alsup. It is never a bad thing to think deeply and frequently about the lavish grace that God bestows on us in His beloved Son.

I have also felt conviction from our most recent sermon series at MDF on the Spiritual Discipline of Self-Control. I have been contemplating my relationship with my husband, whom I love greatly and have much respect for, but realized that I am not as purposeful in enjoying him and cultivating affection as I should or could be. I tend to live like I can work on that tomorrow and in doing so show that I expect tomorrow to be there even though the words "Lord willing" would roll freely from my tongue. So almost 11 years later I am determined to live with my husband like I know tomorrow is not promised, and enjoy the unity and care in that relationship as gracious gift from my Father. I am determined not to put off my most important earthly relationship until tomorrow. We have a really stable and great marriage, but I need to stop treating it like a task to accomplish. It will do greater good for the sake of the Gospel if I treat it like a relationship.

I have read some of my book list, but have not read all of it, so I better get busy because I am not moving on until I have conquered the list... at least that is my plan, we shall see what God's plans are.

The weather is suppose to be very nice, if the Lord wills, so I plan on taking advantage of it through picnics, playing, and taking walks, and reading stories on the swing set with my children.


So that is about all I have to say for the moment about myself. How have you all been this Summer?

Book Study Reminder

Just a reminder that the Cross Talk book study is this Saturday at 9am at Missio Dei Fellowship. Please plan to come and join us in this time of fellowship and discussion - even if you haven't read the book!

Witty Wednesday

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:

'Take only ONE . God is watching.'

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

A child had written a note, 'Take all you want... God is watching the apples.'

You Put This Love in My Heart

You Put This Love in My Heart
by Keith Green

I found it hard to believe
Someone like you cared for me
You put this love in my heart
I tried but could not refuse
You gave me no time to choose
You put this love in my heart
I want to know where the bad feelings go
When I'm depressed and I get down so low
And then I see you coming to me and it's alright
I want to tell you right now
I'm not afraid to say how
You put this love in my heart
There are sometimes when I doubt
But you always find me out
You put this love in my heart
Cause when I see all that you've done for me
It's hard to doubt, I just have to believe
Cause you followed and proved it all of your life
Well I know
the loneliness I had before
Is gone now
I'll never feel it anymore
Cause your love has released me
From all that's in my past
And I know I can believe you
When you say I'll never be forsaken
Your love is gonna last
There's so much more I should say
If I could just find a way
You put this love in my heart
Is all this real or a dream
I feel so good I could scream
You put this love in my heart
I want to know where the bad feelings go
When I'm depressed and I get down so low
And then I see you coming to me and it's alright
You put this love in my heart
You put this love in my heart
You put this love in my heart

Quote of the day

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never

did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not

punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something

better. 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.


Author unknown

A Mother's Legacy

Sirens blared and four pairs of small eyes peered out the car window, searching. Searching for a glimpse of the vehicle causing the blare. The mother pulled the station wagon to the side of the road and peered through the rear view window at her children.

"Quick, kids, lets pray for them," she'd say.

As one, they'd bow their heads - though, at times, a child would peak out, still wanting that glimpse - and the mother's voice would say "Heavenly Father, we want to pray for the people to whom this ambulance is going. We pray that if they do not know you, Lord, that you would use this incident to bring them to you. We pray that if they do know you, Lord, that you would use this incident to help them tell others about You. We pray for the doctors and the nurses, that you would give them wisdom and for the police officers and ambulance workers, that they would also have wisdom. We ask that you would not let anyone die, unless they know you Father. Amen." The mother's voice would catch a little at the end, working hard not to cry.

And all the kids would say Amen and the ambulance would have passed and the mother would pull back out into traffic. And ten minutes later the children will have forgotten it happend.

But repetition has a way of forcing memories and habits in a persuasive way. The children grew up, slowly, and there was never a time that, when a siren blared, the car was not pulled over and the mother did not say a prayer and there was rarely a time that, by the end of it all, the mother was not wiping away a quick tear.

Soon the children were driving on their own. And to their surprise, when it was their turn to pull aside to let the emergency vehicle pass, they found their own voices repeating "Heavenly Father, we want to pray for the people to whom this ambulance is going..."

Witty Wednesday

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood.. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, 'Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.'

'Yes,' the class said.

'Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?'

A little fellow shouted,
'Cause your feet ain't empty.'

God is Not a God of Love Only - Guest Post by Kim Henry

The following is a guest post by Kim Henry:

Have you ever noticed when talking with an people, both inside and outside the church, that often their perception of God is limited? In our country we tend to focus on the fact that God is love. Many don’t know that God hates sin. Some have heard that He is a merciful God. But they would never guess that He disciplines those that He loves and that that discipline can be very painful. How would you talk with these people to help them to expand their view? I was one of those people who focused on God’s love and mercy without balancing these attributes with His other attributes. When I was a fairly new Christian reading through the entire bible radically changed my view of our great God helping me to see Him more fully.

The following examples are just a few aspects of God that can help us to perhaps have a more balanced view of Him. Exodus 34:6-7 gives us a wonderful picture of our God from His own mouth. After His list of all the attributes that we like to think about comes the words, “but Who will by no means clear the guilty.” These words cause me to fear for all those that I love that don’t know Him. They also cause me to fear the consequences of my own sin. Our loving Father cares too much for His people to let us go too long down a path of sin. After all, He sent His beloved Son to die an awful death so that we could be forgiven for sin. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists things that our God hates and that are an abomination to Him such as haughty eyes, lying, and one who sows discord among brothers. Our gracious Father knows that our arrogance, lying, and sowing discord hurts our brothers and sisters, our witness, and ultimately ourselves. Our Lord Jesus' treatment of the money changers and those who sold animals for sacrifice in the temple would be considered harsh by many. He drove them out of the temple with a whip, poured out their coins, and overturned the tables. Jesus utmost concern during His time here was that His Father be glorified. What they were doing didn’t bring God glory. Then, there is the woman that came to Jesus asking that Jesus remove the demon from her daughter. First, Jesus doesn’t answer her, and when she persisted, He called her and her people dogs, saying that He had come only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus, in His mercy, did remove the demon from her daughter because of her faith. Our wonderful Savior was showing His compassion for the Gentiles as well as the Israelites. There are several other examples throughout the bible, as well as in the book, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, by John Piper. Which, by the way, is an excellent book to give to friends.

We can emphasize any one of God’s attributes, but we must remember to emphasize God in all of His glorious attributes. God is so very great that this can be work for us. But, I think that if we put forth the effort to not exclusively think of one or two of His attributes we will find that He will show us just how very awesome He is.

Psalm 91

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked, for you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

Because he has loved me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. "He will call upon me, and I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation."

Moore to the Point

I want to tell you all about this blog that I really enjoy. Its called Moore to the Point and is written by Russell Moore. I enjoy his 'regular' blog posts but my favorite part about his blog are his ethical questions.

People will send Dr. Moore questions, ethical questions about how they should respond to a situation that they find themselves in. The majority of the time they are not simple questions but ones that are of a sensitive nature, to which there is no easy answer. Often times, there is also not a cut-and-dry Scriptural answer either. These are not the kinds of questions that can be solved by quoting your favorite verse.

Dr. Moore posts the situation and plea for advice on his blog and then allows several days for his readers to weigh in on how they feel the situation should be handled. I very much enjoy reading their comments and opinions and often marvel at how many people come up with ideas that would never have occurred to me!

I enjoy this because it gives me an opportunity to wrap my own mind around some of these issues. What would I do if a friend came up to me in this situation and asked for counsel?? It also gives me a chance to hear the counsel of others. Although I often ultimately disagree, it forces me to develop my own arguments and to ensure that I have Scripture to back them up.

After the readers have had ample opportunity to voice their thoughts, Dr. Moore posts his reply to the person or persons seeking advice. A lot of times I agree with him. Some times I do not. And this is an opportunity to grow in humility. I am 23 years old and have lived a relatively sheltered life. I have been brought up in a Christian home with strong, Biblical teaching. I attend a solid church that preaches and teaches the Bible. But I do not know everything. And I would be a fool to think I do.

I'm not going to change my mind on something I believe in simply because someone disagrees with me. I am going to pose my argument for my position and listen to theirs with a fair and open mind. I am going to ask questions of opinions and, above all else, inquire after their Scriptural defense. Sometimes I will come to realize that my own opinions have been wrong and will be forced to change them. Other times I will conclude that I am going to have to disagree with the person. Regardless, it is always a good exercise and I enjoy it very much.

If this sounds like something you would also enjoy, then I recommend you check out his blog.

Witty Wednesday

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.

'Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'

A small voice at the back of the room rang out, 'And there's the teacher, she's dead.'

Parrells between adopting a pet and believer's adoption by God

I was trying to get my kitties, Aubie and Boomer, to come and sit on my lap recently. But, like most kitties, they just looked at me and kept doing what they wanted to do. I felt kind of sad that they didn't come running over and jump into my lap and start purring. Were they mad at me? Were they thinking I was just a weird person? Who knows with cats!

Sometimes they do come and sit on my lap on their own initiative. I really like it when they want to sit with me and let me pet them. Its nice when they come over when I call them but, it is much better when they come on their own. It means more when they come because they want to.

This made me think about my relationship with God. I chose them from a group of many kittens, just because I liked them and thought they were cute. The Bible says in Ephesians 1:4 and 5, that God chose His Children (believers) before the foundation of the world according to the kind intention of His will. Not because of anything I had done, since He chose me before I had even been born. He just picked me because He wanted to. I am so thankful and humbled that He did.

Another parallel between God adopting me and me adopting my kitties is that I love God because He first loved me (1 John 4:19). If I had not first loved my kitties, they most likely would never had loved me.

I said before how much more it means to me when they come to me of their own free will. I think God feels the same way. He never forces anyone to come to Him. But, I think He does draw believers to Himself.

Isn't it amazing how God can use simple things to show us more about Himself?

Question for YOU

Good morning, Ladies! Today I am going to ask YOU all to do some work! Thursday I am going to post some pictures from my recent trip to New Orleans and tell a few stories but that is all we have planned for the rest of the week. So, I thought it would be fun to mix it up a little.

Here is the deal: we want to know what fun things you have done this summer. It could be a neat activity that you did with your kids, or a cool date you went on with your husband, or something you discovered all on your own. Let us know in the comments and feel free to list multiple things!!

An afternoon with my Grandson

My daughter-in-law has been in town with my grandchildren while my Son is in California training with his squadron. It is so good to see them! Both of them have really grown since I saw them last. My grandson, who is 3 years old, has started talking more and he has become a real character.

One day while they were visiting at our house, we had been sitting in the recliners in the sunroom watching Alvin and the Chipmunks and Austin kept wanting to go behind the recliners and peek through the space between them. His mom asked him not to do that several times. She needed to leave the room for a few minutes to take care of my baby granddaughter, Ashley. He immediately went behind the chairs and whispered to me "is she back yet?" Just like most other kids, he figured he could disobey and as long as his mom didn't see it, he was in the clear.

I told him that even if his mom didn't see him disobeying her that God still saw. I don't think he had ever realized it before.

I think that adults think the same way sometimes. We forget that God sees everything. Its a sobering thought.

I challenge you to remember that God is always watching as you go through your day. Would He be proud of you or disappointed?